Roberto Martinez has acknowledged that Belgium are among the favourites to win the World Cup and insists that his players must believe in themselves.

The Red Devils boast an illustrious lineup and are ranked fifth in the world, which made them top seeds in the draw for Russia 2018.

However, Belgium have not previously won a major international tournament, leading Martinez to state that his side must open a "psychological door" heading into next year's finals.

"I think when you say favourites there is a psychological door that you have to open," Martinez told The Telegraph. "A belief that we can win the World Cup. If a previous generation has not done it then it's very difficult for a player to say, 'yeah, we are going to win it'.

"Everyone else, they can be great nations, but to have that belief they can win it they have to grow in the competition. That's something I have seen with Thierry Henry and France. He's had that experience. He was going into that unknown (1998 World Cup) with that really talented generation.

"Spain was the same and then in 2008 when everything came together and they won that first tournament (the Euros). Then it is a lot easier. That door is open. That is something that is very important to us. We have to believe in our ability to do something that has not been done before in Belgian football."

Belgium are in Group G in next year's World Cup alongside England, Tunisia and Panama.