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By Vikram Iyer — 27 June 2026 — 3 min read

Belgium has advanced to the World Cup‘s last 32 after a dominant 5-1 victory over New Zealand, securing the top position in Group G. The result means New Zealand‘s tournament journey has concluded.

Leandro Trossard was a key figure in Belgium‘s performance, scoring two goals. His efforts, along with goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers, ensured Belgium‘s progression to the knockout stages.

Belgium concluded the group stage with five points from three matches, placing them above Egypt on goal difference. Egypt also finished with five points, while Iran had three points and New Zealand finished with one point. In another Group G fixture, Egypt and Iran played to a 1-1 draw.

Belgium’s Dominant Performance

Belgium asserted control from the beginning of the match, maintaining significant possession and posing the primary offensive threat during the initial half. Trossard nearly opened the scoring in the 11th minute, but his shot hit the post.

Shortly after, Belgium was initially awarded a penalty when New Zealand defender Finn Surman was struck on the arm by a shot from Trossard. However, following a video review, the referee overturned the decision, ruling that Surman‘s arm was in a natural position.

The persistent pressure from Belgium eventually paid off in the 28th minute when Trossard converted a cross from Kevin De Bruyne from close range, breaking the deadlock with a well-executed play. Trossard, who is 31, extended Belgium‘s lead in the 50th minute, once again linking up with De Bruyne. He received a through ball, controlled it with his chest, and volleyed it into the net from close range.

New Zealand managed to create a chance in the 54th minute when Eli Just forced Thibaut Courtois into action, with the goalkeeper making a low dive to push away their first shot on target. However, De Bruyne soon added a third goal for Belgium, striking low from the edge of the box after being set up by Trossard. He took one touch with his left foot before driving the ball into the bottom corner. The 34-year-old De Bruyne became the oldest player to score for Belgium at a World Cup.

New Zealand managed to score a consolation goal in the 84th minute through Just. However, Romelu Lukaku, who is 33, quickly restored Belgium‘s three-goal advantage with a powerful header. Fellow substitute Alexis Saelemaekers then added a fifth goal in stoppage time, compounding a difficult night for New Zealand. Lukaku‘s goal also made him Belgium‘s top scorer at the World Cup with six goals, surpassing Marc Wilmots.

New Zealand’s World Cup Campaign Ends

New Zealand‘s coach, Darren Bazeley, expressed his disappointment with the result but also pride in his team’s effort. He acknowledged that the experience against a strong opponent would contribute to their development.

Prior to this match, New Zealand had accumulated a solitary point in the group stage, having drawn 2-2 with Iran before experiencing a 3-1 loss to Egypt. Belgium, despite their star-studded attack featuring players like De Bruyne, Lukaku, and Jeremy Doku, had a somewhat slow start to the tournament, drawing their initial two matches.

Bazeley noted that while the result was painful, the team had come to the tournament with aspirations of advancing from the group. He believes that the experience gained will make the team more resilient in future tournaments, despite the current disappointment of not progressing.

Belgium will now prepare to face one of the eight best third-placed teams in the next round of the competition.

Source: theguardian.com