Belgium vs New Zealand: Result, Stats & Predictions (World Cup 2026)

Result

Belgium produced their best performance of the group stage, dismantling New Zealand 5-1 at BC Place in Vancouver. Leandro Trossard scored in the 28th minute and added a second five minutes into the second half. Kevin De Bruyne made it three in the 66th minute, Elijah Just pulled one back for New Zealand in the 84th before Romelu Lukaku restored the cushion two minutes later. Alexis Saelemaekers completed the scoring in stoppage time. Belgium top Group G; New Zealand are eliminated.

What It Means for Last Man Standing Pools

Belgium were the right pick here, and if you had them available and used them on this match, it paid off cleanly. The question for most pools was timing — Belgium had already qualified heading into this game, raising the usual rotation risk. In the end, they played to win, delivered five goals, and rewarded the players who backed them. With De Bruyne, Trossard, and Lukaku all on the scoresheet, this looked like Belgium meaning business ahead of the knockout rounds rather than coasting through a dead rubber.

Pre-Match Predictions

Belgium were strong pre-match favourites against a New Zealand side that had lost both previous group games. Forecasters put Belgium's win probability at around 75%, with a draw at approximately 16% and a New Zealand win at just 9%. The scoreline matched the expectation comfortably. Worth noting: Belgium came into this match having been held 0-0 by Iran and drawing 3-1 with Egypt earlier in the group, so there was a credible concern they hadn't hit top form. The 5-1 win answered those questions emphatically and improved their goal difference significantly heading into the knockout stage.

Standout Stats

Belgium registered 35 shots against New Zealand — one of the highest single-match shot tallies in World Cup 2026 group stage play, per FIFA match data. Leandro Trossard's two-goal performance was his third multi-goal game for Belgium at major tournaments. Kevin De Bruyne's goal was his seventh in competitive international football since Euro 2024. Romelu Lukaku, who came off the bench, has now scored in each of his last four major tournament appearances for Belgium, according to tournament records. New Zealand ended the group stage having conceded 11 goals in three matches, the most of any team remaining at the 2026 World Cup.

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