FIFA World Cup 2026
FIFA World Cup Preview: New Zealand vs Belgium
Belgium faces a must-win clash against New Zealand in their final FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match. With a place in the Round of 32 on the line, Belgium will be desperate to secure victory, while New Zealand looks to pull off one of the biggest upsets in their football history.
With a one-point and one-spot difference between New Zealand and Belgium, this match is set to be a close one at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Belgium will be fighting for a win to secure second place while New Zealand is fighting to stay in the competition. This is all dependent on the results between Egypt and Iran.
New Zealand
New Zealand has impressed many with their fighting spirit throughout the tournament so far. They drew 2-2 to Iran and lost 1-3 to Egypt. Both games showed New Zealand’s ability to compete against stronger opponents and keep up.
They have a fully fit squad available with no reported injuries or suspensions ahead of the match. This has allowed head coach Darren Bazeley to pick the strongest team possible.
Belgium
Few teams have underperformed the way Belgium has during the group stages. Sitting in third position on the log, they opened with a 1-1 draw against Egypt and a 0-0 draw with Iran.
After their usual World Cup success, this game comes with excess pressure to try and make it through to the Round of 32.
But several key players will be missing from this match. Nathan Ngoy got suspended during the Iran match, while Jeremy Doku is out for personal reasons.
What’s at Stake
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Belgium sits on two points after two consecutive draws. A win is required here to push them through to the Round of 32. Another draw would mean that their chance of making it through to the knockouts is dependent on other teams’ results.
New Zealand needs all the points they can get from a win to push them through to the Round of 32. Progression to the next round would be one of the greatest football achievements for the nation.
Verdict
New Zealand’s organisation and determination will make this game a difficult one for Belgium, especially given their recent poor performance. But Belgium’s desperation for a victory may finally bring out the type of performance we’ve come to expect of them.
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Prediction: Belgium to win