Belgium's World Cup Advancement
Belgium Dominates New Zealand 5-1, Advances to World Cup Knockout Round
Belgium demolished New Zealand 5-1 at BC Place in Vancouver on June 26 to advance to the knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup AP News. Leandro Trossard and Kevin De Bruyne each scored twice, with Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers adding late goals to seal a dominant Group G win.
The victory puts Belgium top of Group G with five points. It ends New Zealand's tournament, leaving the All Whites without a win and with just one point from three matches NH Register.
Belgium Turns on the Style After Slow Start
Belgium came into the match under pressure. They had drawn 1-1 with Egypt and 0-0 with Iran in their first two games. A third draw — or worse — would have ended their tournament. Coach Rudi Garcia switched to a more aggressive 4-2-3-1 formation, and it paid off quickly AP News.
Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute. A De Bruyne corner deflected off New Zealand's Tim Payne and fell to Trossard, who finished from close range. Trossard doubled the lead in the 50th minute with a volley after his first shot was blocked. De Bruyne made it 3-0 in the 66th minute with a strike from the edge of the box Leader Telegram.
Lukaku and Saelemaekers Pile on After New Zealand's Brief Spark
New Zealand pulled one back in the 84th minute through Elijah Just. It was his third goal of the tournament — a record for a New Zealand player in a single World Cup. Just said after the match, "I'll do my best to stay up there in the Golden Boot race... the future is looking bright" for New Zealand football WWL TV.
Any hope of a comeback lasted just two minutes. Substitute Lukaku scored in the 86th minute, assisted by Nicolas Raskin. Saelemaekers then sealed the rout in the 90th-plus minute. Belgium finished the match with 17 shots to New Zealand's six and 58% possession WD Times.
Group G Final Table: Belgium on Top, Egypt Second
The Group G finale played out at the same time in Seattle, where Egypt and Iran drew 1-1. That result confirmed Belgium as group winners with five points and a goal difference of plus four. Egypt finished second with five points and a goal difference of plus two Winnipeg Free Press.
Iran took third with three points. New Zealand finished bottom with just one point. Coach Garcia said after the final whistle: "We have more qualities than New Zealand, but it depended on the intensity we brought. The draws were a wake-up call" The Hour.
Belgium's Next Step and What the Win Means
As Group G winners, Belgium advance to the Round of 32. They will face one of the best third-place finishers from other groups. The win also steadies Belgium's FIFA ranking. They were close to falling out of the world's top 10 heading into the match WD Times.
Trossard was named Man of the Match. Analysts compared his performance to Belgium's former star Eden Hazard at his peak. For New Zealand, the loss is painful — but Elijah Just's record-breaking tournament gives fans something to hold onto as the All Whites look to grow the sport at home AP News.
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