Group G: Belgium's Last Dance Begins
Belgium's golden generation has evolved but the ambition remains, with Kevin De Bruyne and the veteran core still carrying huge expectations into the tournament. Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, dream of their first-ever knockout stage appearance. Iran are defensive specialists who frustrate everyone they face. New Zealand return after 16 years. Four very different teams, four very different stories.
Group G Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇳🇿New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 6 |
| 2 | 🇪🇬Egypt | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
| 3 | 🇧🇪Belgium | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 1 |
| 4 | 🇮🇷IR Iran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top 2 advance · Best 8 third-placed teams also advance
Belgium
Rank #3 · UEFA
Best: Third place (2018)
★ Kevin De Bruyne
Egypt
Rank #29 · CAF
Best: Group Stage (1934, 1990, 2018)
★ Mohamed Salah
IR Iran
Rank #20 · AFC
Best: Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
★ Mehdi Taremi
New Zealand
Rank #89 · OFC
Best: Group Stage (1982, 2010)
★ Chris Wood
Rank #3 · Coach: Rudi Garcia
De Bruyne's creative genius and the emergence of Doku provide enough quality to navigate the group. But Belgium's aging defense is a concern.
Rank #29 · Coach: Hossam Hassan
Mohamed Salah on a mission. If Egypt can defend compactly and release Salah on the counter, they could finally break their knockout stage duck.
Match to Watch
Belgium vs Egypt — De Bruyne's passing vs Salah's counter-attacking runs. A clash of two of the Premier League era's greatest players on the World Cup stage.
Prediction
Belgium top the group despite some nervy moments. Egypt edge Iran for second place. Iran frustrate everyone but can't score enough. New Zealand compete physically.