Belgium hit five to top Group G as Lukaku reaches a milestone
Belgium surged to the top of Group G with an emphatic 5-1 win over New Zealand at BC Place in Vancouver, a clinical attacking display leading the way. Needing victory to guarantee progress, the Red Devils delivered their most complete performance of the tournament, their quality overwhelming a brave but outmatched New Zealand. Leandro Trossard and Romelu Lukaku were among the scorers, the latter's goal extending his record as Belgium's all-time leading scorer.
How it unfolded: Trossard's corner, Lukaku's header
Belgium were ruthless throughout. Leandro Trossard opened the scoring from a corner, and the Red Devils swept forward in waves, Kevin De Bruyne orchestrating from midfield and creating chances at will. Romelu Lukaku powered home a header for the fourth, a typically strong finish, as Belgium built a commanding lead. New Zealand claimed a deserved consolation through Elijah Just, but the gap in quality was vast as Belgium cruised to a comfortable win.
Context: a milestone for Belgium's record scorer
Lukaku's goal further cemented his place atop Belgium's all-time scoring charts, a fitting milestone for a forward who keeps delivering on the big stage and remains central to the Red Devils' ambitions. Around him, Belgium clicked into form at exactly the right moment, De Bruyne pulling the strings and a quick, incisive attack firing in unison for the first time at these finals. After two cagey draws, this was the performance their talent had threatened. New Zealand can take pride in Just's goal and a competitive campaign that exceeded expectations, even on a night that ultimately belonged emphatically to Belgium.
The table: Belgium top, into the last 32
Belgium finished top of Group G on five points (GD plus four), edging Egypt — also on five but a plus-two goal difference — thanks to their five-goal haul; Iran ended third and New Zealand exit at the bottom. Belgium advance to the Round of 32 with real momentum. Our forecast of over 2.5 goals landed comfortably in a six-goal contest, as Belgium's attacking quality delivered exactly the open, high-scoring game the numbers pointed to.
What we predicted before the match
🌍 FIFA World Cup · World
New Zealand – Belgium Prediction and Betting Tips
New Zealand
LDLLW
vs
20:00
26 Jun · Fri
Belgium
DDWWD
Kick-off: 20:00 local (26 Jun) · 03:00 UTCVenue: BC PlaceReferee: A. Makhadmeh
Top forecast + 4 supporting tips
5 picks Top Pick
Total:Over: 2.5Over 2.5 goals60% confidence
1.42odds
Both teams must win to keep their hopes alive, and with New Zealand scoring freely the decider should open up past 2.5 goals.
Back this tip
X262%
Belgium or draw
1.10 odds
Total Team 2 Over: 0.568%
Belgium to score
1.03 odds
Total Team 1 Over: 0.564%
New Zealand to score
2.01 odds
Total:Over: 1.578%
Over 1.5 goals
1.11 odds
New Zealand face a pressured Belgium at BC Place in a Group G finale with both nations' hopes hanging by a thread and the two group games kicking off simultaneously.
New Zealand's last stand
New Zealand sit on one point after a spirited 2-2 draw with Iran and a 1-3 defeat to Egypt, in which they led early before being overhauled. Only a win — allied to a favourable result in the other Group G match — can keep their tournament alive. Roared on by a partisan Vancouver crowd, the All Whites have shown they can find the net and carry a threat from set-pieces, and they will throw everything forward in search of a famous result. They arrive with no major absentees reported.
Belgium under pressure
Belgium have now gone four matches without a victory under Rudi Garcia, drawing 1-1 with Egypt and 0-0 with Iran to sit on two points, and the head coach is feeling the heat with qualification still unresolved. Winger Jérémy Doku remains a doubt after the illness that kept him out against Iran, a blow to their attacking edge. They must win to stay in control of their own fate, and for all their recent struggles in front of goal their individual quality should ultimately tell against lesser opponents.
Our forecast: goals in a must-win
With both sides forced to chase the win their situations demand, our forecast leans toward goals: the total over 2.5 reads as the value angle in a game neither can afford to play safe. Around it, Belgium to avoid defeat reflects their superior class, Belgium are tipped to end their drought and score, and New Zealand are backed to find the net as they commit numbers forward.
New Zealand — recent matches
22 Jun 2026Egypt1 — 3L
16 Jun 2026Iran2 — 2D
06 Jun 2026England0 — 1L
03 Jun 2026Haiti0 — 4L
30 Mar 2026Chile4 — 1W
Belgium — recent matches
21 Jun 2026Iran0 — 0D
15 Jun 2026Egypt1 — 1D
06 Jun 2026Tunisia5 — 0W
02 Jun 2026Croatia2 — 0W
01 Apr 2026Mexico1 — 1D
08.10.2020BelgiumvsNew Zealand- — -
Squad Availability
✚ Injured ·■ Suspended
New Zealand
No reported absences
Belgium
✚J. Doku
✚Z. Debast
■N. Ngoy
Key Players
New Zealand
Chris WoodSTNottingham Forest · 70+ caps · 35 G · Captain
Marko StamenićCMOlympiacos · 20+ caps
Ben OldAMSt. Étienne · 15+ caps
Tyler BindonCBReading · 15+ caps
Belgium
Kevin De BruyneAMNapoli · 110+ caps · 30 G · Captain
Romelu LukakuSTNapoli · 110+ caps · 85 G
Jeremy DokuLWMan City · 25+ caps
Youri TielemansCMAston Villa · 75+ caps
Injuries
New Zealand
None reported
Belgium
None reported
Venue · Context
Stadium: BC Place
Capacity: 54,500
BC Place's retractable roof and temperate Vancouver climate make for comfortable, predictable conditions with no heat or rain interference.
Weather: Mild, ~18–22°C; roof shelters from any rain.
New Zealand
1–5
Belgium
