Belgium advances to knockout stage
Belgium has secured its place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup after defeating New Zealand 5-1. The victory on Friday, June 26, 2026, eliminated New Zealand from the tournament and marked Belgium’s first win of the competition. This result placed Belgium at the top of Group G.
The match saw Leandro Trossard score two goals for Belgium, contributing to their dominant performance. Other goal scorers for the European nation included Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers. This strong offensive display allowed Belgium to finish ahead of Egypt in the group standings based on goal difference.
Belgium’s path to the knockout stage followed a slow start to their World Cup campaign. They began the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Egypt and a scoreless draw against Iran, which had placed them in a surprising third position in their group before this decisive match.
Match highlights and key moments
The game, played in Vancouver, saw Belgium establish control early, particularly in a lopsided first half. Leandro Trossard was central to Belgium’s early threats, with an angled shot hitting the inside of the upright before being cleared off the line by Tyler Bindon. Moments later, a penalty was initially awarded when Trossard’s shot struck the arm of defender Finn Surman, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
Despite the overturned penalty, Belgium did not have to wait long for their breakthrough. Trossard scored the opening goal from close range after a corner from De Bruyne created chaos in the six-yard box. He then effectively sealed the game five minutes into the second half, volleying home a rebound past New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe.
Kevin De Bruyne further extended Belgium’s lead in the 66th minute with a low finish, making the score 3-0. This goal was particularly significant as it propelled Belgium past Egypt into first place in the group on goal difference. However, New Zealand’s Elijah Just scored a consolation goal from the edge of the area, temporarily shifting Belgium back to second place.
The drama continued as Romelu Lukaku, who came on as a substitute, restored Belgium’s lead at the top of the table by heading in his team’s fourth goal in the 86th minute, just a minute after entering the game. Alexis Saelemaekers then completed the scoring with a shot from the edge of the area, solidifying the 5-1 victory.
Group G outcomes and next steps
With their win, Belgium finished atop Group G. They are now set to face a third-place finisher in the next round of 32. This upcoming match is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, 2026, and will take place in Seattle.
In the other Group G finale, played simultaneously in Seattle, Egypt and Iran drew 1-1. This result meant Egypt secured the runners-up spot in the group, while Iran finished third. Iran now faces an anxious wait to determine their fate regarding advancement to the knockout stage.
For New Zealand, the defeat means they head home without achieving their first-ever World Cup win. They needed an outright victory against Belgium to have any chance of progressing in the tournament.
Belgium’s advancement marks a significant improvement from their previous World Cup appearance in Qatar four years ago, where they were eliminated in the group stage. The team had finished third in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
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Source: thehindu.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
