The visitors kept out everything Belgium could throw at them in a near 90-minute siege and lead with 12 points from six games, one ahead of Belgium, which has a game in hand.

Belgium attacked continually almost from the start, with Jeremy Doku trying to open up the defence from the left flank and Kevin De Bruyne probing from the edge of the area.

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But its efforts were thwarted by a committed defence and when it was breached, goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski came up with some key saves.

Doku regularly sold dummies to defenders to set up chances only for the last effort to be blocked or saved while De Bruyne’s best effort from the edge of the area took a deflection and went away for a corner.

North Macedonia, which has never been to the FIFA World Cup but did cause a shock when it qualified for the 2020 European championship, had two attempts on goal from rare counter-attack chances but there was barely anything for home goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to do.

"We did everything we could to score but it was frustrating. If we had got a first goal, I'm sure we would have got a lot more," Belgian midfielder Hans Vanaken said.

Belgium has a game in hand and is still fancied to win the group and qualify for next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

But it will need to be sharper in front of goal if it is to get a much needed away win against Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday (AEDT) and take over the leadership of the group.

It finishes its fixtures next month at Kazakhstan and at home to Liechtenstein.

North Macedonia’s final two group games are home to Kazakhstan on Tuesday (AEDT) and it finishes away against Wales on 19 November (AEDT).

Wales, which has 10 points from five games, benefitted from the draw and remains in contention but its cause rests on beating Belgium on Tuesday (AEDT).