History was made in Vancouver as Belgium delivered a masterclass against New Zealand, dominating from the first whistle to the final whistle in a 5-1 victory. This emphatic performance, combined with Egypt’s hard-fought 1-1 draw with Iran, ensured the Belgians finished top of Group G. The Pharaohs, meanwhile, secured their first-ever qualification for the knockout stages of a World Cup—a landmark achievement for Egyptian football.

Belgium’s commanding start to the tournament

The Red Devils had gone nearly four years without a World Cup win since their 1-0 triumph over Canada in their opening match of the 2022 edition. Against New Zealand, they ended that drought in style. A relentless attacking display saw Belgium register 16 shots in the first half, four of which were on target, as they overwhelmed their opponents with technical brilliance and territorial control.

Leandro Trossard, the most consistent Belgian midfielder of the competition, opened the scoring in the 28th minute after pouncing on a misplayed clearance from New Zealand’s right-back Tim Payne. The Arsenal attacker, positioned perfectly in the 5.5-meter box, capitalized on the error to slot home his shot. Earlier, Trossard had seen his effort hit the post (11th minute), with the rebound cleared off the line by Tyler Bindon, while he also forced a penalty that was overturned by the VAR for handball in an unnatural position (20th minute).

Tactical adjustments pay off for Rudi Garcia

Belgium’s early control was built on the creativity of Kevin De Bruyne and Hans Vanaken, who linked play between midfield and attack. However, their buildup play lacked the clinical edge needed to convert pressure into goals. Jérémy Doku, deployed on the left wing, struggled to find the precision required to test the New Zealand goalkeeper, Max Crocombe, while Charles De Ketelaere failed to capitalize on several half-chances inside the box.

Belgium’s breakthrough came after the interval when Trossard, once again, rose to the occasion. He converted a pass from De Bruyne following a blocked shot from Bindon to double the lead in the 50th minute. Coach Rudi Garcia then introduced Matias Fernandez-Pardo in the 56th minute to inject pace and depth, while reducing Doku’s influence in favor of a more structured approach. The changes paid dividends as De Bruyne, Belgium’s talisman, turned provider into predator, collecting a loose ball in front of the New Zealand box before curling a shot past Crocombe to make it 3-0 in the 67th minute—his 30th international goal.

Belgium’s dominance continued, though they showed signs of complacency when Elijah Just pulled one back in the 84th minute. The substitution of Trossard for Alexis Saelemaekers and De Bruyne for Amadou Onana in the 72nd minute ensured fresh legs and defensive solidity. The introduction of Romelu Lukaku and Nicolas Raskin in the 85th minute sealed the victory with Lukaku heading home a cross from the Rangers midfielder to make it 4-1 in the 86th minute. His 91st international goal extended his record as Belgium’s all-time top scorer, with his 12th major tournament goal in World Cups and Euros combined.

In stoppage time, Saelemaekers added a fifth goal in the 90+4th minute, capitalizing on a cross from Napoli’s striker—a rare moment of individual brilliance in an otherwise collective performance. The comprehensive win secured Belgium’s top spot in the group, with a superior goal difference over second-placed Egypt.

Egypt survives late scare to secure historic qualification

Across the pitch in Seattle, Egypt and Iran played out a nervy 1-1 draw that saw the Pharaohs hold on for dear life. Mahmoud Saber gave Egypt the perfect start with a fifth-minute strike, his shot threading through a maze of Iranian legs to find the net. However, Iran equalized through Rezaeian in the 14th minute, plunging Egypt into a defensive struggle that lasted the remainder of the match.

Egypt’s defense, marshaled by Mostafa Shobeir, faced a penalty from Sardar Azmoun in the 11th minute, which was brilliantly saved. The match descended into a scrappy affair, with fouls piling up and chances drying up as both teams grew increasingly frustrated. Iran dominated the final 15 minutes, pressing hard for a winner that would have sent them through at Egypt’s expense. Twice, Iran came agonizingly close—first when Mehdi Taremi’s header was denied by the crossbar in the 90+6th minute, and then when a last-gasp effort by Morteza Khalilzadeh was ruled out for a marginal offside decision in the 90+3rd minute.

As the final whistle blew, the Egyptian players collapsed to the turf in relief, having survived a baptism of fire to secure their place in the Round of 16 for the first time in their history. Their qualification was far from comfortable, but it was undeniably historic, ensuring that Group G produced two teams guaranteed a spot in the next round.

What’s next for Belgium and Egypt?

Belgium will face their next challenge on Wednesday at 10 PM local time in Seattle, where they will await the identity of their opponent—one of the best third-placed teams from the group stage. Egypt, meanwhile, will look to build on this hard-earned qualification and prove they belong among football’s elite in the knockout rounds. For Iran, their fate now hangs in the balance as they await the results of other group matches to determine if they can advance as one of the top eight third-placed teams.