World Cup 2026 Group G – Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand

Okay so Group G. Let’s talk about it properly because honestly, this is one of those groups that doesn’t get enough attention. You’ve got Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand – and on paper it looks like a straightforward group with a clear favorite. But football doesn’t care about paper, does it?

Here’s what makes this group genuinely interesting if you dig into it a little.

Belgium - The Obvious Frontrunner (But There's a Catch)

Belgium are the team everyone expects to top this group. And they probably will. But here's the thing - this isn't the Golden Generation Belgium anymore. De Bruyne is aging, Lukaku has been inconsistent for years now, and the squad depth just isn't what it was heading into Russia or Qatar. They're still quality. Still dangerous. But they're not untouchable the way some people assume.

If Belgium show up focused and organized, they cruise through. If they're sloppy - and they have been sloppy before at major tournaments - someone in this group could genuinely make things uncomfortable for them. That's not a crazy take, that's just history.

Watch their first game closely. Belgium at World Cups tend to set their tone early.

Egypt - More Than Just Salah

People always reduce Egypt to Mohamed Salah. Which is fair because, well, he's Mohamed Salah. But that also creates this weird situation where if Salah has a quiet game, people write Egypt off entirely - even when the rest of the team is actually performing.

Egypt are tactically disciplined. They're hard to break down. And they've developed some real quality beyond their star man over the last few years. The African qualifying campaign wasn't always pretty but they got through, and that experience of grinding results matters at a World Cup.

Realistically? Second place in this group is very much within reach for them. A lot depends on whether Salah arrives in form and whether the team around him clicks in the big moments.

Iran - Quietly Dangerous

Iran are the team in this group that neutral fans probably know the least about. And that's kind of their advantage.

They've qualified for three straight World Cups now. Three. That's not luck, that's a system that works. They're organized, they're physical, and they're genuinely difficult to play against when they set up defensively. In Qatar 2022 they actually beat Wales and came very close against the United States, so dismissing them as just "a team that's there to make up numbers" would be a mistake.

Carlos Queiroz - if he's still involved - knows how to set Iran up to frustrate better teams. Even without him, the tactical DNA he built is still there. Don't be shocked if Iran nick a result that surprises people.

New Zealand - The Long Shot With Something to Prove

Look, New Zealand qualifying for a World Cup is always a bit of a story in itself. The Oceania path is what it is - it's not the same gauntlet as Europe or South America. But once they're there, they compete.

The All Whites (yes, that's actually their nickname - nothing to do with rugby) tend to be physically fit, well-organized, and they never really give up. They're not going to dominate possession against Belgium or Egypt. That's just reality. But they can defend deep, hit on the counter, and in a tournament where one weird result can change everything, they're not there just to lose three games.

Getting a point or two would be a massive achievement. And honestly? Don't completely rule it out.

How the Group Plays Out - Realistic Expectations

Belgium top the group. That's the most likely outcome by a significant margin. Second place is genuinely open between Egypt and Iran, and that match between those two could end up being the most important game in the group.

New Zealand's best shot is probably against Iran. That's the game where they have the most realistic chance of something - even a draw would be huge for them.

The Egypt vs Iran game is the one to watch. Two defensively solid teams, both needing points, both capable of a tight and physical contest. Could easily end 1-0 or 1-1 with a goal that comes from nowhere.

The Wildcard Factor

Here's something worth thinking about - World Cup 2026 has an expanded format with 48 teams. That means third-place finishers can still advance. So even if a team finishes third in Group G, they're not necessarily done. That changes the psychology a little. Teams might take slightly more risks knowing elimination isn't automatic if they drop points early.

That could actually benefit New Zealand and Iran more than anyone. Less pressure to go all-in from game one.

Final Thought

Group G isn't the flashiest group in the tournament. No Brazil, no France, no drama of two giants colliding. But it's got a legitimate star in Salah, a quality European side in Belgium, and two teams in Iran and New Zealand who genuinely believe they can cause problems.

Sometimes those mid-tier groups end up being the most entertaining ones. No one's completely safe, no one's completely dominant. Just football. Which is kind of the point.