Thanks to an emphatic victory combined with a 1-1 stalemate between Egypt and Iran, Belgium secured the top spot in its group. This outcome was far from guaranteed for Rudi Garcia’s squad after the opening two matchdays.
Belgium had no room for error. Following two disappointing draws in their initial outings, the Red Devils entered this final group fixture needing a win against New Zealand. While a third consecutive split of the points might have sufficed depending on external scenarios, Rudi Garcia’s side chose not to leave their fate to chance. Guided by a stellar performance from Leandro Trossard, the Belgians quickly asserted authority over the matchup before unleashing their offensive power. New Zealand, already facing major struggles in this pool, endured prolonged periods of Belgian dominance before scoring a late consolation goal.
Ultimately, Belgium triumphed 5-1, stamping their ticket to the round of 32 as group winners courtesy of a superior goal differential. Trossard served as the primary architect of the Belgian victory by netting a brace, while Kevin De Bruyne also found the back of the net before Elijah Just converted from a corner kick to claim his third goal of the tournament. This response proved to be merely anecdotal as Romelu Lukaku, moments after coming off the bench, instantly restored his team’s breathing room before Alexis Saelemaekers finalized the scoreline during stoppage time. Although the final tally looks impressive, the overall display was somewhat mixed: Belgium maintained heavy possession but frequently lacked precision and efficiency in the final third. Nonetheless, the primary objective of qualification and winning the group was accomplished, whereas New Zealand exits the tournament.
Egypt approached this closing matchday with much less pressure. Aided by results flowing in from other groups, the Pharaohs had secured their spot in the round of 32 prior to kickoff against Iran. Conversely, Team Melli was playing for tournament survival: a defeat would have essentially doomed them, while a draw preserved strong chances of advancing as one of the best third-placed squads. Following a hard-fought battle, the two teams finished level at 1-1. The Iranians believed they had snatched a dramatic victory deep in added time, but a potential game-winner was overturned by VAR, wiping away what would have been an historic triumph. During the first half, Taremi had also failed to convert a penalty opportunity.
While Egypt maintains its unbeaten streak, this encounter leaves a bitter aftertaste. Hossam Hassan’s lineup faced heavy pressure from an impressive Iranian squad, missed out on the chance to clinch the top seed, and heads into the round of 32 with escalating concerns. Mohamed Abdelmonem, newly returned to action and making his first start of this World Cup, exited with an injury early in the match. During the second half, Mohamed Salah was forced off the pitch due to an apparent hamstring issue, sparking serious anxiety regarding his physical fitness ahead of the knockout phase. To make matters worse, midfielder Mohanad Lasheen picked up another caution and will serve a suspension for the round of 32. Meanwhile, Iran looks poised to continue its campaign on the strength of this valuable point, which should see them progress among the top third-place finishers.