Belgium seal knockout stage spot with 5-1 win over New Zealand

The Report Desk

Published: June 27, 2026, 12:06 PM

Belgium seal knockout stage spot with 5-1 win over New Zealand

Photo: Collected

Belgium secured their place in the World Cup knockout stage after cruising to a 5-1 victory over New Zealand in their final Group G match on Friday.

Leandro Trossard scored twice as Belgium finished top of the group, bouncing back from a slow start to the tournament with an emphatic performance.

The victory means Belgium will face one of the best third-placed teams in the Round of 32 on Wednesday in Seattle.

Belgium went into the match under pressure after drawing their opening two group fixtures against Egypt and Iran, but responded with a dominant display to seal qualification.

Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also got on the scoresheet as Belgium recorded their first win of the tournament.

Elsewhere in Group G, Egypt‍‍`s 1-1 draw with Iran ensured the Pharaohs also advanced to the knockout stage, while Iran‍‍`s qualification hopes depended on results in other groups.

New Zealand briefly threatened through Elijah Just, who scored the All Whites‍‍` only goal of the match.

The defeat brought New Zealand‍‍`s campaign to an end, with the Oceania side finishing the tournament without registering its first-ever World Cup victory.

Belgium‍‍`s progression marks a strong response after the Red Devils failed to advance beyond the group stage at the 2022 World Cup, having finished third at the 2018 tournament in Russia.

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