Belgium Cruise Past New Zealand to Top FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G

Belgium finally claimed their first victory at the FIFA World Cup 2026, producing a commanding 5-1 win over New Zealand to finish top of Group G and book their place in the knockout stage. After opening the tournament with back-to-back draws, Rudi Garcia's side delivered the convincing performance their supporters had been waiting for.
New Zealand managed only a late consolation through Joe Bell Just, but it did little to change the outcome as Belgium sealed an emphatic 5-1 victory.
The result sees Belgium advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 as Group G winners.
World Cup 2026
New Zealand - Belgium 1:5 (0:1)
Goals: Trossard, 28 (0:1); Trossard, 50 (0:2); De Bruyne, 66 (0:3); Just, 84 (1:3); Lukaku R., 86 (1:4); Saelemaekers, 94 (1:5)
New Zealand: Crocombe; Payne (Boxall, 64); Bindon; Cacace (De Vries Fr., 79); Surman; Bell J. (McCowatt, 64); Stamenic; Thomas R. (Old, 46); Singh S. (Randall, 46); Just; Wood C.
Substitution: Old (from 46); Randall (from 46); Boxall (from 64); McCowatt (from 64); De Vries Fr. (from 79)
Bench: Paulsen; Woud M.; Pijnaker; Elliot C.; Smith T.; Rufer; Bayliss; Rogerson; Barbarouses; Waine; Bidois
Yellow Cards: Stamenic 46; Just 56
Belgium: Courtois; Theate; Mechele; De Cuyper; Castagne; De Bruyne (Onana A., 72); Tielemans (Raskin, 85); De Ketelaere (Lukaku R., 85); Vanaken; Trossard (Saelemaekers, 72); Doku J. (Fernandez Pardo, 56)
Substitution: Fernandez Pardo (from 56); Onana A. (from 72); Saelemaekers (from 72); Raskin (from 85); Lukaku R. (from 85)
Bench: Lammens; Penders; Meunier; De Winter K.; Seys; Witsel; Lukebakio; Moreira D.