Group G at the 2026 World Cup represents an intriguing mix of a European giant whose golden generation is likely playing their last tournament together, an African powerhouse dreaming of their first historic success, an Asian veteran for whom advancing from the group has become a curse, and an Oceanian underdog hoping for a miracle. This is a group where three continents and three different football philosophies collide. We analyze the participants, key players, schedule, and provide a forecast for the outcome of the clashes in Group G.
Participants and Overall Balance of Power
Group G is as follows: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. According to the FIFA rankings and analysts' opinions, Belgium, ranked eighth in the world, is the main contender for the top spot. A fierce battle for the second playoff spot will unfold between Egypt (34th place) and Iran (20th place). New Zealand (86th place) is considered a clear outsider, but in the new tournament format, even a third place might give a chance to continue fighting .
Belgium: The Last Dance of the Golden Generation
Belgium enters the World Cup as the group favorite but with a heavy burden of unmet expectations. For over a decade, the Red Devils have been considered dark horses in major tournaments but rarely manage to live up to these predictions. At the last World Cup in Qatar, the Belgians didn't even make it out of the group .
How they qualified. In the qualifying campaign, Belgium finished first in their group, ahead of Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. The team didn't lose a single match, thrashing weaker opponents with scores of 6-0, 6-0, and 7-0, but slip-ups against the Macedonians and Kazakhs showed that the team is far from perfect .
Coach and style. The team is led by French specialist Rudi Garcia, who replaced Domenico Tedesco. Under Garcia, Belgium plays in 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations, focusing on quick transitions from defense to attack and effective use of the flanks. However, the defensive line remains the team's main problem — without proper concentration, Belgium may face difficulties against counterattacking opponents .
Key players. Belgium boasts a unique mix of experience and youth. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, returning to the national team after a two-year absence due to a conflict with the former coach, is still considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. In midfield, 34-year-old Kevin De Bruyne remains the team's brain — he scored 6 goals and provided one assist in qualifying. In attack, besides veteran Romelu Lukaku, the main striking force is 23-year-old Jeremy Doku, whose speed and dribbling can tear apart any defense. The squad also includes Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, and 37-year-old Axel Witsel, who returned to the national team after a one-year break .
Forecast. Advancing from the group for Belgium is a task that doesn't even need discussion. However, everything will depend on the playoff draw. If the Red Devils reach the quarterfinals, it will be considered a good result. For the De Bruyne and Courtois generation, this is likely their last chance to win a trophy, but this team is unlikely to achieve more than a quarterfinal .
Egypt: Salah and Marmoush vs. History
Egypt returns to the World Cup after eight years. This is only the Pharaohs' fourth participation in the World Cup in nearly a century-long history of the team. So far, Egypt has zero wins in World Cup matches — in 1990 and 2018, the team only earned two points .
How they qualified. In the African qualifiers, the Egyptians left no chance for their opponents: 8 wins, 2 draws, goal difference of 20:2. The ticket was secured long before the end of the qualifiers .
Coach and style. The team is led by Hossam Hassan, who has focused on balanced football with an emphasis on attack. Unlike previous years when the game completely depended on Salah, Egypt now has several high-class attacking players, making the team more unpredictable .
Key players. The main star and captain is Mohamed Salah. For the legendary winger, this will be only his second World Cup, and he will be highly motivated for success. This year, Salah will leave Liverpool, but in the national team, he remains the central figure. His attacking partner is Omar Marmoush, who is expected to replace Salah's influence on the game in the coming years. Marmoush plays for Manchester City and is in excellent form. The squad also includes Mostafa Mohamed and other talented players .
Forecast. Egypt is expected to advance from the group. If the Pharaohs fail to surpass Iran and New Zealand, it will be a real disgrace in the eyes of their fans. Considering that the World Cup playoffs now start from the round of 16, reaching the 1/8 finals will be considered a good result for a team that previously couldn't even win a match .
Iran: Regular Guests Seeking First Success
Iran is making its seventh World Cup appearance and fourth in a row. The Persian Lions have become regular participants in the World Cup but have never advanced from the group. Six attempts — six group stage failures. Now they have a chance to finally break this curse .
How they qualified. In the Asian qualifiers, Iran looked confident: 11 wins, 4 draws, and only one loss throughout the qualifying cycle. The team finished first in the group, ahead of Uzbekistan, UAE, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea. Overall, the Iranians scored 35 goals and conceded 12 .
Coach and style. The team is led by Amir Ghalenoei, who has focused on pragmatic, disciplined football. Iran plays with a low defensive line, maintains good positional discipline, and is dangerous in quick counterattacks. This is a team that is very difficult to break down .
Key players. The main star is Mehdi Taremi, playing for Greek Olympiacos. In the qualifying cycle, he scored 8 goals and provided 7 assists — without him, Iran's attack simply doesn't work. He is supported by the experienced Alireza Jahanbakhsh. Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, remembered from the 2018 World Cup, is still in the lineup. However, it's worth noting that the average age of many key players is quite high, and squad depth leaves much to be desired .
Forecast. Iran is a dangerous underdog that can take points from any favorite. Their defensive discipline may come as a surprise to Belgium, which is counting on easy goals. However, Iran is not as strong in attack as Egypt. The main goal is to earn points in matches against New Zealand and possibly secure a draw with Egypt. Third place is a realistic result that may give a chance at the playoffs.
New Zealand: Oceanian Warriors with One Trump Card
New Zealand returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2010. The All Whites took advantage of the tournament's expansion to 48 teams and qualified for the World Cup for the third time in history. In 2010, the New Zealanders performed a small miracle by not losing a single match in the group stage (three draws), but it wasn't enough to advance to the playoffs .
How they qualified. In the Oceanian qualifiers, New Zealand left no chances for their opponents, confidently finishing first and securing a spot in the tournament. This was expected, considering the level of competition in the region.
Coach and style. The team is led by Darren Bazeley, who instilled a pragmatic, physical style of play in the New Zealanders. The All Whites focus on physical battles, tight defense, and long passes to a tall forward. In the new World Cup format, where even third place might give a playoff spot, the New Zealanders can hope for a surprise .
Key players. New Zealand has only one world-class star — captain Chris Wood, a forward for Nottingham Forest. His play in the opponent's penalty area determines the team's fate in attack. Defender Liberato Cacace, who plays in the Italian Serie A and is in great form, also stands out. The rest of the players represent leagues in Australia, England, and other countries, but there are no stars among them .
Forecast. New Zealand is the weakest team in the group in terms of ranking and squad. The main goal for the team is to earn points, preferably in the match against Iran, which is also not a top team. Even a draw can be considered a success, and a victory would be a sensation. In the new tournament format, third place with three points might give a playoff opportunity, so it's too early to write off the New Zealanders.
Schedule of Group G Matches
The group matches will take place in stadiums in the USA and Canada.
June 16: Belgium vs. Egypt (Seattle).
June 16: Iran vs. New Zealand (Los Angeles).
June 22: Belgium vs. Iran (Los Angeles).
June 22: New Zealand vs. Egypt (Vancouver).
June 27: Egypt vs. Iran (Seattle).
June 27: New Zealand vs. Belgium (Vancouver).
Final Prediction for Group G
Group G is one of the most predictable in the tournament, but it has its own intrigue. Belgium should advance from the top spot, while the fight for the second place between Egypt and Iran might extend to the last round.
First place — Belgium. Despite the age of the leaders and defensive problems, the class of the Red Devils' players is higher than any opponent in the group. De Bruyne, Courtois, and Doku should ensure a smooth passage to the playoffs. The only question is how confident their performance will be — if the Belgians go into full throttle, they are capable of earning nine points.
Second place — Egypt. Salah and Marmoush are too strong an attacking duo to give way to Iran in the playoffs. The Egyptians should beat New Zealand and at least not lose to the Persians. Advancing to the round of 16 will be a historic achievement for the Pharaohs — they will finally break their winless streak at World Cups.
Third place — Iran. The Persian Lions will show character and put up a fight, but they will lack the attacking class to surpass Egypt. A victory over New Zealand and possibly a draw with one of the favorites will allow them to earn three to four points. This is likely enough to be among the best third-place teams.
Fourth place — New Zealand. The Oceanian fairy tale is unlikely to last more than three matches. It will be extremely difficult for the New Zealanders to compete with seasoned Europeans and Africans. The main goal is to play decently, not to disgrace themselves, and possibly get a draw with Iran. Even one point will be a success for the All Whites.
The main intrigue of the group. Will Egypt finally win a match at the World Cup and advance to the playoffs, or will Iran cause a sensation and reach the round of 16 for the first time in their history? We will find out the answer to this question in the match between these two teams in the last round. As for Belgium, the main intrigue for the Red Devils is not advancing from the group but how far they can go in the playoffs and whether the golden generation can say goodbye to big football with dignity.