Belgium overwhelmed New Zealand 5-1 at BC Place in Vancouver on Friday, June 26, 2026, with Leandro Trossard scoring twice to fire the Red Devils to the top of Group G at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The emphatic win secured Belgium’s place in the Round of 32 as group winners, while New Zealand, who needed to win outright to have any chance of progressing, were eliminated.
Key Takeaways
- Belgium beat New Zealand 5-1 to finish top of Group G and reach the Round of 32.
- Leandro Trossard scored twice, with Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also on the scoresheet.
- Belgium piled up 35 shots and 3.65 expected goals, holding New Zealand without a single attempt in the first half.
- Elijah just scored a late consolation for New Zealand, which exited the tournament in fourth place on one point.
The New Zealand vs Belgium World Cup 2026 matchup was a mismatch from the outset. Belgium controlled the game and created chance after chance, and although the scoreline stayed at 1-0 until the interval, the second half brought the flood of goals their dominance deserved. New Zealand, unable to muster a meaningful attacking threat, was undone by the tournament’s most ruthless attacking display so far.
How did Belgium run riot against New Zealand?
Belgium laid siege to the New Zealand goal but had only one goal to show for it at half-time. Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, nudging home from inside the six-yard box after New Zealand failed to clear an in-swinging corner from the left. Remarkably, New Zealand did not register a single shot in the opening 45 minutes as Belgium racked up attempt after attempt.
The second half turned into an exhibition. Trossard doubled the lead in the 50th minute, lashing in a rebound after his first effort had been blocked. Kevin De Bruyne then curled in a low strike from outside the area in the 66th minute, a goal that made him the oldest player to score for Belgium at a World Cup at 34 years and 363 days.
New Zealand grabbed a deserved consolation through Elijah Just in the 84th minute, but Belgium had the final word. Substitute Romelu Lukaku headed in the fourth in the 86th minute and then teed up Alexis Saelemaekers for a fifth deep in stoppage time, capping a devastating night for Rudi Garcia’s side.
What were the key statistics of the New Zealand vs Belgium World Cup 2026 match?
The numbers lay bare the gulf between the sides. Belgium finished with 35 shots, among the most in any World Cup match on Opta record since 1966, and an expected goals tally of 3.65 to New Zealand’s 0.25. Even a relatively modest possession share did not tell the full story, as Belgium turned their time on the ball into a relentless stream of chances.
| Statistic | New Zealand | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 40% | 50% |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.25 | 3.65 |
| Goals | 1 | 5 |
Belgium’s shot count of 35 stands out as the defining statistic of the night, underlining how comprehensively they dominated the contest despite New Zealand’s stubborn first-half resistance.
Who were the standout performers and starters for each side?
Leandro Trossard was the star of the show with his two goals, while Kevin De Bruyne dictated the game from midfield and marked it with a record-setting strike. Romelu Lukaku made an immediate impact off the bench, scoring and assisting within minutes of his introduction to become Belgium’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer. Thibaut Courtois, at the other end, was barely called into action.
Belgium Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Thibaut Courtois
- Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Arthur Theate, Maxim De Cuyper
- Midfielders: Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken
- Attacking midfielders: Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard
- Forward: Charles De Ketelaere
New Zealand set up to contain Belgium and largely held firm in the first half before being overrun after the break. Captain Chris Wood was starved of service up front, and it was substitute-aided pressure that finally yielded Elijah Just’s consolation goal.
New Zealand Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Max Crocombe
- Defenders: Tim Payne, Tyler Bindon, Finn Surman, Liberato Cacace
- Midfielders: Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic
- Attacking midfielders: Sarpreet Singh, Ryan Thomas, Elijah Just
- Forward: Chris Wood
What does this result mean for the Group G standings in the World Cup 2026?
The win lifted Belgium to the top of Group G on five points, edging out Egypt on goal difference after the Pharaohs drew 1-1 with Iran in the simultaneous fixture. Iran finished third but missed out on a best-third-placed berth, while New Zealand ended bottom with a single point.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 5 |
| 2 | Egypt | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 5 |
| 3 | Iran | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 1 |
New Zealand’s exit means they have still yet to win a match across their three World Cup appearances. Belgium, meanwhile, finally hit top gear at the perfect time after a slow start to the tournament that had brought only draws against Egypt and Iran.
What are the upcoming fixtures for both teams after this match?
As Group G winners, Belgium advance to the Round of 32, where they face Senegal in Seattle. The Red Devils will hope the attacking fluency they found against New Zealand carries into the knockout rounds.
New Zealand’s tournament is over following their group-stage elimination, with no further fixtures. Group runners-up Egypt also progress from Group G, meeting Australia in the Round of 32.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored in the New Zealand vs Belgium match?
Leandro Trossard scored twice for Belgium (28′ and 50′), with Kevin De Bruyne (66′), Romelu Lukaku (86′) and Alexis Saelemaekers (90’+4′) completing the 5-1 win. Elijah just scored New Zealand’s consolation goal in the 84th minute.
What record did Kevin De Bruyne set in this match?
Kevin De Bruyne became the oldest player to score for Belgium at a World Cup when he netted in the 66th minute, aged 34 years and 363 days. His low finish from outside the box made it 3-0 on the night.
Did New Zealand qualify for the Round of 32?
No. New Zealand needed to win to have a chance of advancing but lost 5-1, finishing bottom of Group G on one point. They were eliminated at the group stage and remain without a win across their three World Cup appearances.
Who does Belgium play next?
Belgium advances to the Round of 32 as Group G winners and faces Senegal in Seattle. Egypt, the group runners-up, go on to meet Australia in the same round.
How dominant was Belgium statistically?
Belgium recorded 35 shots, among the most in a World Cup match on Opta records since 1966, and generated 3.65 expected goals to New Zealand’s 0.25. They also held New Zealand without a single shot in the entire first half.
