New ZealandvsBelgium

Belgium ran out comfortable winners over New Zealand 5–1. Goalscorers — New Zealand: E. Just 84'; Belgium: L. Trossard 28', L. Trossard 50', K. De Bruyne 66', R. Lukaku 86', A. Saelemaekers 90'+4.

New Zealand met Belgium in Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Arlington on Saturday, June 27, 2026. It is one of the six matches in Group G, where the four sides each play three games and the top two advance directly to the Round of 32. With the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also progressing, points here carry real weight from the opening whistle.

Belgium go in ranked 9th in the FIFA World Ranking to New Zealand's 85th — a gap of 76 places that marks Belgium out as clear favourites on paper. It is an inter-confederation meeting — New Zealand of OFC against Belgium of UEFA — the kind of contrast in styles the World Cup exists to stage.

New Zealand are Oceania's strongest footballing nation alongside Australia, and the All Whites have been consistent contenders for the OFC's World Cup berth. New Zealand play a direct, physical style suited to their squad of players competing across the A-League, MLS, and lower European leagues.

Belgium arrive at the 2026 World Cup at a crossroads, as the golden generation that took them to the top of the FIFA rankings and a World Cup semifinal in 2018 is coming to an end. The retirements of Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois from international duty, along with the aging of other key figures, have forced Belgium into a rebuilding phase.

New Zealand: New Zealand have appeared at two World Cups: 1982 in Spain, where they lost all three group matches, and 2010 in South Africa, where they achieved the remarkable feat of going unbeaten, drawing all three group matches against Slovakia, Italy, and Paraguay. Belgium: Belgium's best World Cup result was a semifinal appearance in 2018 in Russia, where they finished third after losing to France.

The match is scheduled at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, United States. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 03:00 AM (11:00 PM ET).