World Cup 2026 Group G
GROUP G
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Belgium | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 5 |
| Egypt | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Iran | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
Mike Tuckerman
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Belgium
Having exited the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in ignominious fashion at the group stage, Belgian fans will go into their North American adventure wondering if their nation's golden generation has already missed its chance.
While the Belgians have one of the most experienced national teams around - particularly if Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Girona veteran Axel Witsel make it on the plane - there's no denying there will be a changing of the guard after this tournament.
Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and veteran striker Romelu Lukaku are still around, but have they got the legs to still decide games in the heat of a North American summer?
The Belgians cruised through qualifying undefeated, winning five and drawing three of their qualification games. But the group was tighter than results suggest, with the Belgians needing a late winner from De Bruyne to see off Wales 4-3 in Brussels in a victory that ultimately proved pivotal.
Rudi Garcia is the latest to take on the task of trying to steer the Red Devils to international glory, following Domenico Tedesco's underwhelming two-year stint in charge. But while the Frenchman has made the Belgians tough to break down, they've struggled against higher-ranked opponents - losing three straight games to France between Euro 2024 and the UEFA Nations League.
Results have improved since then, but this is not the same Belgian side that went into the 2018 World Cup as one of the favourites to win the tournament. Egypt and Iran are both well-organised enough to frustrate the Red Devils, while New Zealand's physicality could pose questions in Vancouver on the final matchday.
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Belgium Kit 1 |
Belgium Kit 2 |
Belgium vs Egypt - June 15; Seattle
Belgium vs Iran - June 21; Inglewood
New Zealand vs Belgium - June 26; Vancouver
Coach
Coach: Rudi Garcia
Record
Best World Cup: Third place in 2018.
Formation
3-4-2-1
One to watch: Jeremy Doku
Capable of turning a game on its head with his mazy dribbling and pacy attacks, the Manchester City winger gives Belgium an unpredictability they've often lacked in recent years. If Doku wins his one on one duels, the Red Devils are capable of beating anyone on their day.
Belgium should progress from the group.
How they qualified
Belgium may have topped Group J in UEFA qualifying, but they didn't have things all their own way. Their key win came early, with the talismanic De Bruyne scoring a late winner over Wales in Brussels in June 2025 after the Red Devils had thrown away a three-goal lead. A 4-2 win in Cardiff, where De Bruyne converted two penalties, was enough to see the Belgians steer clear of the Welsh and claim the automatic qualification spot - despite dropping points to North Macedonia twice, as well as to Kazakhstan.
On the sidelines
While the Belgians had been sweating on the fitness of Courtois, De Bruyne, Lukaku and Club Brugge veteran Hans Vanaken, all four are expected to be available in North America. The big question will be whether Leandro Trossard joins them, with the Arsenal's star's wife deleting all photos of him on social media - suggesting he could have some personal headaches to contend with this summer.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Racing Strasbourg)
Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting), Maxim de Cuyper (Brighton), Koni de Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Midfielders: Kevin de Bruyne (Napoli), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Girona)
Strikers: Charles de Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Diego Moreira (Strasbourg), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)
Egypt
No African side arrives in North America carrying greater expectation than Egypt - but the big question is whether Liverpool star Mohamed Salah will be fit, with the outgoing Liverpool attacker racing against the clock to return from a hamstring injury.
Under veteran coach Hossam Hassan, the Egyptians have become a far more aggressive side than the cautious outfit that stumbled through previous qualification campaigns. Hassan has encouraged his team to press higher up the pitch and play with greater attacking freedom, with Manchester City star Omar Marmoush thriving alongside Salah in a fluid front line.
Salah, it goes without saying, is the key figure. Revered across the Arab world and still capable of moments of match-breaking quality, the diminutive attacker shoulders the hopes of an entire nation. The concern is whether the Pharaohs rely on him too heavily - particularly on the back of a Premier League season where little has gone to plan.
Despite the reliance on Salah, the Egyptians boast quality elsewhere. Marmoush provides pace and unpredictability, while Al Jazira midfielder Mohamed Elneny is a calming influence in the middle of the park, having recently notched his 100th cap in national team colours.
The challenge for Hassan will be handling the pressure of expectation. Egypt have often flattered to deceive on the global stage, and memories of their disappointing 2018 World Cup - where Egypt finished bottom of Group A after losing all three games - still linger.
What should encourage Egypt is the make-up of their group. The Belgians are vulnerable, Iran remain difficult to break down but are limited going forward, and New Zealand lack tournament experience. That leaves the door open for Salah to finally fire the Egyptians beyond the group stage at the fourth time of asking.
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Egypt Kit 1 |
Egypt Kit 2 |
Belgium vs Egypt - June 15; Seattle
New Zealand vs Egypt - June 21; Vancouver
Egypt vs Iran - June 26; Seattle
Coach
Hossam Hassan
Record
Best World Cup: Group stage (1934, 1990, 2018).
Formation
4-3-3
One to watch: Omar Marmoush
While Salah attracts most of the headlines, Marmoush has quietly developed into one of Europe's most dangerous attacking players. Quick, direct and fearless running at defenders, he gives Egypt another dimension in transition and is more than capable of finishing off goal-scoring opportunities himself.
Odds of 300/1 for Egypt to go all the way.
How they qualified
After starting their campaign with a 6-0 thrashing of Djibouti in which Salah rattled home goals, the Pharaohs never really looked troubled - despite drawing away to Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso. They conceded just twice throughout the group stage and rattled home 20 goals in their ten games played, with Salah finishing top scorer with nine goals to his name.
On the sidelines
There was no doubt a collective intake of breath across Egypt when Salah went down clutching his hamstring in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield in late April. While Egypt's talisman is expected to return before the end of the Premier League season, all eyes will be on whether the pacy striker is fully fit.
Egypt's other major concern has been Nice defender Mohamed Abdelmonem, who has been fighting his way back from an ACL injury.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), El Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (El Gouna)
Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Tarek Alaa (Zed), Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah), Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdelmonemn (Nice), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Karim Hafez (Pyramids)
Midfielders: Marwan Ateya (Al Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Nabil Emad (Al Najma), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Ahmed Zizo (Al Ahly), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Mostafa Ziko (Pyramids), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjaelland), Haissem Hassan (Real Ovideo)
Strikers: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Aqtay Abdallah (Enppi), Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona)
Iran
Will Iran actually make it to the starting line? That's been the question ever since US President Donald Trump started his latest global misadventure - with rumours suggesting American officials had even asked FIFA about the possibility of swapping the Iranians out for an Italy side that failed to qualify.
Yet to exclude Team Melli would be to prevent one of Asia's toughest teams from taking their rightful starting place at the World Cup finals, after Amir Ghalenoei's side lost just once in the third round of Asian qualifying.
It wasn't all plain sailing, with Uzbekistan giving the Iranians a run for their money in both the second and third rounds of Asian qualifying. But a crucial 2-2 draw with the Uzbeks in Tehran, in which Taremi scored twice, sealed their spot in North America with two games to spare.
The Iranian players will give short shrift to geopolitics, with Ghalenoei's side more interested in winning on the pitch. Much continues to revolve around the craft and guile of Olympiakos striker Mehdi Taremi, with the veteran having scored more international goals than practically the rest of the Iranian squad combined.
The popular Alireza Jahanbakhsh adds plenty of experience in midfield in what will be his fourth appearance the World Cup finals, while the dynamic Saman Ghoddos - who was born in Malmö and played in two friendlies for Sweden - offers plenty of impetus going forward.
But it's Iran's collective team spirit and willingness to work together that is arguably their biggest strength. They're often happy to sit back and hit teams on the break, with Taremi a potent finisher when chances come his way.
The biggest question is whether the Iranians are ambitious enough to take the game to their opponents. They have a tendency to sit back and let games pass them by, which could prove problematic in a group in which every team will fancy their chances.
But this is still a side with plenty of big-match experience. Plenty of the Iranians have competed at multiple World Cups and Asian Cups, and they'll be inspired by the occasion.
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Iran Kit 1 |
Iran Kit 2 |
Iran vs New Zealand - June 15; Inglewood
Belgium vs Iran - June 21; Inglewood
Egypt vs Iran - June 26; Seattle
Coach
Amir Ghalenoei
Record
Best World Cup: Group stage in 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022.
Formation
4-1-4-1
One to watch: Mehdi Taremi
Arguably at the peak of his powers, Taremi combines physicality, intelligence and a ruthless eye for goal. Iran may not create many chances but when they do arrive, the former Inter striker has proved time and time again he can be relied upon to finish.
Iran are 1/2 on to make it out of the group stage.
How they qualified
Iran cruised through Asian qualifying, finishing top of their third-round group with two games to spare. Away wins over the United Arab Emirates, North Korea in Vietnam, and Kyrgyzstan suggest they won't be overawed in North America, and they'll hope to see plenty of their Persian diaspora in the stands.
On the sidelines
Pacy winger Ali Gholizadeh is out of the World Cup with a serious knee injury suffered at his Polish side, Lech Poznan.
Star striker Sardar Azmoun is also unlikely to feature. Despite having scored 57 goals in 91 internationals, the former Zenit Saint Petersburg and Bayer Leverkusen attacker has reputedly been dropped from the national side, having been an outspoken and highly visible critic of Iran's theocratic regime. The striker, who currently plays for Shabab Al-Ahli in the United Arab Emirates, is said to have drawn criticism from Iranian officials. According to reports, tensions arose after Azmoun shared a photograph in March with UAE ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The post reportedly sparked controversy against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan)
Defenders: Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati, Ramin Rezaeian (both Foolad F.C.) Shojae Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Persepolis), Danial Eiri (Malavan Bandar Anzali), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal)
Midfielders: Saman Ghoddos (Kalba, UAE), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shahab al-Ahli, UAE), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda, UAE), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Amirmohammad Razzaghinia (Gol Gohar), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov, Russia), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr, UAE), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender EH), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)
Strikers: Mehdi Taremi (Olympiakos, Greece), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Shahriyar Moghanlou (Kalba, UAE), Dennis Eckert (aka Dennis Dargahi in Iran, Standard Liege, Belgium)
New Zealand
Back at the World Cup for the first time since 2010, New Zealand arrive with limited expectations but arguably a quiet confidence they can make life uncomfortable for their more fancied opponents.
The expanded 48-team format has handed the All Whites a clear path to qualification, but after making predictably short work of Oceania, it would be unfair to suggest the All Whites don't deserve their spot in North America. English coach Darren Bazeley - who has called New Zealand home for more than 20 years - has assembled a disciplined and hard-running side that is arguably greater than the sum of its parts.
The Kiwis are unlikely to dominate possession against anyone in Group G. Instead, they'll look to remain compact defensively, compete in aerial duels and capitalise on set pieces whenever possible - not least because they possess a potent attacking threat up front.
Captain Chris Wood is clearly the key. Despite being in the later stages of his career, the Nottingham Forest striker not only provides a genuine goal threat in attack but also some much-needed leadership from a side lacking in tournament experience.
The emergence of Wrexham new boy Liberato Cacace and Swansea City midfielder Marko Stamenic has given the All Whites greater technical quality, although there are still some obvious limitations when it comes to facing top-class opponents.
It's been 16 years since the All Whites last appeared at the World Cup finals, but given the fact New Zealand regularly punches above its weight in the global sporting arena, they won't be overawed.
Their opening game against Iran looms large. Avoid defeat there and suddenly the chance of sneaking into the knockout rounds becomes a real possibility.
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New Zealand Kit 1 |
New Zealand Kit 2 |
Iran vs New Zealand - June 15; Inglewood
New Zealand vs Egypt - June 21; Vancouver
New Zealand vs Belgium - June 26; Vancouver
Coach
Darren Bazeley
Record
Best World Cup: Group stage in 1982 and 2010.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Marko Stamenic
The midfielder provides offers composure and an expansive passing range to New Zealand's engine room. Comfortable on the ball and having already played for a host of big European clubs - including Copenhagen, Olympiakos, and Red Star Belgrade in his late father's native Serbia - the 24-year-old has quietly transformed into one of New Zealand's most eye-catching exports.
It's going to be a leap of imagination for New Zealand to escape their group.
How they qualified
The All Whites dominated Oceania qualifying, brushing aside allcomers before downing New Caledonia 3-0 in the final to secure automatic qualification. The Kiwis scored freely throughout the campaign, although tougher opposition in North America will provide a far sterner examination.
On the sidelines
New Zealand, like so many international sides, have had plenty of injury concerns to deal with in the build-up to just their third World Cup finals appearance. Captain Chris Wood, full-back Liberato Cacace, experienced defender Michael Boxall, and playmaker Sarpreet Singh - who could become just the second player of Indian heritage to play in a World Cup finals after France midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo - have all recently spent time on the sidelines.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe (Millwall FC), Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdańsk), Michael Woud (Auckland FC)
Defenders: Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix), Francis De Vries (Auckland FC), Tyler Bindon (Nottingham Forest), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Liberato Cacace (Wrexham AFC), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Finn Surman (Portland Timbers), Callan Elliot (Auckland FC), Tommy Smith (Braintree Town)
Midfielders: Joe Bell (Viking FK), Marko Stamenić (Swansea City), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle), Lachlan Bayliss (Newcastle Jets)
Strikers: Matt Garbett (Peterborough United), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest), Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix), Eli Just (Motherwell FC), Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers), Ben Waine (Port Vale), Ben Old (Saint-Étienne), Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg), Jesse Randall (Auckland FC)