After two draws that cast doubt on their chances of advancing, Belgium responded decisively when it mattered most. The Red Devils thrashed New Zealand 5-1, and combined with the 1-1 draw between Egypt and Iran, they finished as Group G leaders to advance to the World Cup knockout stage.
The Belgian team entered the final matchday in third place in their group, after drawing 1-1 with Egypt and playing to a scoreless draw against Iran. However, an explosive second half completely turned the tide, transforming a difficult start into a dominant finish.
Leandro Trossard was the star of the match with a brace, while Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers also contributed goals to seal a resounding victory. Elijah Just scored New Zealand’s only goal; the team needed a win to keep its hopes of advancing alive but ultimately bowed out of the tournament without securing its first-ever World Cup victory.
With this result, Belgium secured first place in Group G and will now face the third-place team from another group in Seattle during the knockout round.
In the group’s other match, Egypt and Iran drew 1-1 in a game that ultimately worked in Belgium’s favor. Mahmoud Saber opened the scoring for Egypt just five minutes in, following a rebound off a shot by Mohamed Salah.
Iran responded quickly. Mehdi Taremi missed a penalty kick in the 11th minute when his attempt was saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, though three minutes later Ramin Rezaeian tied the game by capitalizing on a rebound.
The second half offered little excitement. Both teams managed the result, and although Iran scored in the final minutes, VAR ruled the goal offside after a lengthy review. The Iranians also hit the crossbar.
With the draw, Egypt advanced as the second-place finisher in Group G, while Iran also secured its spot in the next round. The match, played in Seattle, coincided with Pride celebrations, making it the so-called “FIFA Pride Match.”
