FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G Preview: Belgium The Team To Beat?

Last Updated:June 09, 2026, 14:07 IST

FIFA World Cup 2026: Belgium lead the way in Group G, but Egypt and Iran have the quality to challenge the favourites and make the race for qualification a close one.

Group G may not attract the same attention as some of the tournament’s heavyweight sections, but it has all the ingredients to become one of the most competitive groups at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Belgium enter as favourites and possess the deepest squad on paper, yet both Egypt and Iran have the quality and experience to challenge for a place in the knockout rounds. New Zealand arrive as underdogs, but with a proven goalscorer and a disciplined approach, they will be determined to upset expectations. While Belgium are expected to lead the way, the battle for qualification could be among the closest of any group in the tournament.

BELGIUM

For a decade, Belgium’s much-vaunted “golden generation" carried the expectation of delivering a major international trophy but ultimately fell short. Now, with many of those stars gone and a new-look squad emerging, the Red Devils could become one of the tournament’s dark horses.

Belgium’s squad for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States still includes remnants of the side that topped FIFA’s year-end rankings four times between 2018 and 2021 and reached the World Cup semi-finals in Russia in 2018.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, record scorer Romelu Lukaku, talisman Kevin De Bruyne and veteran midfielder Axel Witsel are all preparing for a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance. However, Belgium’s prospects may depend more on a younger generation of players.

Courtois and De Bruyne remain automatic selections, but Lukaku has struggled with injuries throughout the season and was included in the 26-man squad largely on the expectation that he can return to fitness. Witsel, meanwhile, has been recalled primarily to provide experienced cover.

The spotlight instead falls on players such as Aston Villa duo Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans, who has succeeded De Bruyne as captain, along with Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku, whose dribbling ability and growing influence have increasingly made him a match-winner for Belgium. Together, they form the backbone of a team looking to forge its own identity.

Belgium endured a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and followed it with an underwhelming Euro 2024 campaign, where they stumbled through the group phase before exiting in the last 16.

Those results saw Belgium slip to ninth in the world rankings, and with figures such as Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen now retired, expectations surrounding the national team have significantly eased. That reduction in pressure may suit a side now led by French coach Rudi Garcia, who took charge at the start of 2025.

Belgium were impressive during qualifying, finishing unbeaten across eight matches and ending two points ahead of Wales. They have also received what is arguably the most favourable draw among the European nations, with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand alongside them in Group G.

The opportunity is there to progress without attracting excessive attention, conserve energy for the knockout rounds and potentially make a deep run. Ironically, the generation that arrives with fewer expectations may ultimately achieve more than the one that carried so many.

EGYPT

When Egypt’s all-time leading scorer Hossam Hassan headed home the winner against Algeria to secure qualification for the 1990 World Cup, celebrations swept across the football-mad nation. Nearly four decades later, Hassan has guided Egypt back to the finals as head coach, but this time qualification has been viewed less as an achievement and more as the starting point for bigger ambitions.

Egypt’s previous three World Cup appearances were celebrated in their own right, but with Africa now enjoying almost twice as many World Cup places as in 2022, simply reaching the tournament is no longer enough. Hassan is under pressure to deliver Egypt’s first World Cup victory and move beyond memories of first-round exits in 1934, 1990 and 2018.

That challenge comes despite Egypt being the most successful nation in Africa Cup of Nations history, with seven titles.

Drawn alongside Belgium, Iran and New Zealand, the Pharaohs have realistic aspirations of reaching the knockout stages for the first time.

Mohamed Salah was 26 when he scored Egypt’s only two goals at the 2018 World Cup after a remarkable debut season with Liverpool. Although the 33-year-old is no longer at the peak of his powers following an underwhelming final campaign with the club, he remains Egypt’s primary attacking weapon and sits just two goals short of Hassan’s national scoring record.

Egypt will also look to Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush for goals, with the Premier League duo carrying much of the responsibility in a squad otherwise dominated by locally based players.

Hassan has also made a bold selection decision by including 18-year-old striker Hamza Abdelkarim, currently on loan with Barcelona’s U19 side, while leaving out Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed.

Egypt begin their campaign against Belgium on June 15 before taking on New Zealand a week later and Iran on June 27.

IRAN

Iran arrive at the World Cup under circumstances unlike any other team in the tournament. They are competing while their country is at war with the World Cup’s primary host nation, creating a situation without precedent in the competition’s history.

This will be Iran’s fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, but much of the build-up has been dominated by questions over whether the team would even be allowed to enter the United States. After U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the tournament, Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervened to deny reports that Washington had asked Iran not to participate.

Iran finalised their squad on June 8, including 17 players based in the domestic league, whose clubs have not played since February because of the war.

Star forward Sardar Azmoun was omitted from the squad in March, reportedly because of a social media post that angered Iranian authorities during the conflict.

Iran open their campaign against New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15 before facing Belgium six days later. Their final group match against Egypt takes place in Seattle on June 26.

Should both Iran and the United States finish second in their respective groups, the two nations could meet in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas.

Despite the off-field distractions, Iran possess a talented squad capable of making an impact. They will aim to block out the noise and deliver a performance that can unite supporters at home and abroad. On their day, they have the quality to trouble both Belgium and Egypt.

NEW ZEALAND

Captain Chris Wood will carry New Zealand’s hopes as the All Whites make their long-awaited return to the World Cup, targeting both a first tournament victory and a historic place in the knockout rounds.

The 34-year-old Nottingham Forest striker remains the focal point of the attack and the emotional leader of the squad, despite coming off a season disrupted by injury. New Zealand are appearing at their third World Cup and first since South Africa in 2010.

Wood also serves as a link to the country’s most celebrated World Cup campaign. He was part of Ricki Herbert’s 2010 squad, which exited in the group stage but earned widespread praise after drawing with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay.

Only one other player remains from that squad – 36-year-old defender Tommy Smith – making their experience particularly valuable in a team otherwise filled with World Cup debutants.

New Zealand are the lowest-ranked side in Group G and face a difficult challenge against Belgium, Egypt and Iran. Yet Wood’s importance cannot be overstated. With 45 goals in 88 appearances, he is the country’s all-time leading scorer and its only player competing in one of Europe’s top leagues.

His participation had been in doubt following surgery on a chronic knee problem in December, and former All Whites coach Herbert has warned that the injury will require careful management during the tournament.

Like nations such as Curacao and Haiti, New Zealand have benefited from the expansion to a 48-team World Cup. The Oceania confederation now receives an automatic qualification place for the first time, removing the need to navigate an intercontinental playoff. New Zealand had fallen at that final hurdle in qualifying for the tournaments in Qatar, Russia and Brazil.

A straightforward qualification path, inconsistent recent form and fitness concerns throughout the squad have left few expecting them to make a significant impact.

The team lacks a genuine midfield game-breaker and would struggle to compensate if Wood were unavailable. Yet New Zealand have a clear identity built on organisation, defensive discipline and relentless commitment. Those qualities have frustrated stronger opponents before, and if Wood can contribute a goal or two, the All Whites may yet produce a surprise.

FIFA World Cup Group G Full Schedule

• June 16, 2026 (Tuesday), 00:30 AM IST: Belgium vs Egypt Seattle Stadium Seattle, Washington, USA
• June 16, 2026 (Tuesday), 6:30 AM IST: Iran vs New Zealand Los Angeles Stadium Inglewood, California, USA
• June 22, 2026 (Monday) 00:30 AM IST: Belgium vs Iran Los Angeles Stadium Inglewood, California, USA
• June 22, 2026 (Monday) 6:30 AM IST: New Zealand vs Egypt BC Place Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• June 27, 2026 (Saturday) 11 PM IST: New Zealand vs Belgium BC Place Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• June 27, 2026 (Saturday) 11 PM IST: Egypt vs Iran Seattle Stadium Seattle, Washington, USA

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