Belgium surged into the World Cup round of 32 as Leandro Trossard and Kevin De Bruyne delivered against New Zealand. Playing under the roof at BC Place in Vancouver, the Red Devils put on a clinical FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G display, beating the All Whites 5-1 in front of 52,497 fans.
Belgium, who had underwhelmed across their first two games, went into Friday’s clash needing a win to be absolutely sure of their place in the knockout stages. Garcia was under pressure coming into this one, with Belgium having been so wasteful in attack against Iran (taking 23 shots without scoring).
But with Egypt drawing against Iran, Rudi Garcia’s team powered into the round of 32 in style. Leandro Trossard starred with a double before Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku added further gloss, sealing top spot in Group G.
Table of Contents
Match Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | World Cup 2026 – Group G |
| Fixture | Belgium vs. New Zealand |
| Venue | BC Place (Vancouver, Canada) |
| Attendance | 52,497 |
| Final Score | Belgium 5 – 1 New Zealand |
First Half: Relentless Belgian Pressure
From the outset, Belgium controlled tempo and territory, pinning New Zealand low and racking up entries into the final third. A dominant first-half performance from Belgium saw New Zealand fail to have a single attempt.
Having already hit the post, Trossard thought he had won a penalty when his strike hit Finn Surman’s arm, but the referee overturned his decision to award a spot-kick following a VAR review.
Belgium’s breakthrough eventually arrived in the 28th minute. Trossard was on hand to lash home from close range after reacting first to a loose ball in the area following a goalmouth scramble. It was the reward for sustained Belgian pressure, with New Zealand dealing with cross after cross before the breakthrough landed.
Second Half: Experienced Heads Deliver
Trossard doubled up five minutes into the second half (50′), timing his run to meet a Hans Vanaken pass to prod in acrobatically after seeing his initial attempt saved by Max Crocombe. The Arsenal forward could have had an assist when he laid a pinpoint pass into the path of substitute Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who could not keep his effort on target.
Yet Trossard was involved as De Bruyne made it 3-0 on 66 minutes. The winger’s surging run drew a group of New Zealand defenders, with the loose ball ending up at the feet of De Bruyne. From outside the box, De Bruyne drilled a crisp, left-footed attempt into the right-hand corner.
New Zealand responded on 84 minutes when Elijah Just drove inside and beat Thibaut Courtois with a powerful left-foot finish. Just’s third World Cup goal marked a consolation for New Zealand and saw Belgium momentarily drop out of top spot in the group.
However, substitute Romelu Lukaku was on hand to immediately restore their three-goal cushion with a towering header in the 86th minute, meeting Nicolas Raskin’s accurate cross. In stoppage time, Lukaku turned provider as, with the final kick of the game, he squared for Alexis Saelemaekers to finish right-footed from inside the area, wrapping up a big 5-1 win.
Goal Summary Timeline
| Minute | Goalscorer | Team | Assist / Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28′ | Leandro Trossard | Belgium | Close-range strike following a goalmouth scramble |
| 50′ | Leandro Trossard | Belgium | Acrobatic finish on a rebound; Assist by Hans Vanaken |
| 66′ | Kevin De Bruyne | Belgium | Left-footed strike from outside the box |
| 84′ | Elijah Just | New Zealand | Powerful left-foot finish |
| 86′ | Romelu Lukaku | Belgium | Towering header; Assist by Nicolas Raskin |
| 90+3′ | Alexis Saelemaekers | Belgium | Right-footed finish; Assist by Romelu Lukaku |
Tactical Breakdown: A Historic Shot Volume
Belgium’s dominance was comprehensive by any measure. The Red Devils generated an expected goals (xG) of 3.69 compared to New Zealand’s 0.25. The gap aligns with a massive 35-6 shot differential (10-2 on target).
Their 35 shots ranks as their third-most in a World Cup match on record (1966 onwards), trailing only their 40 shots against the United States in 2014 and 36 vs. El Salvador in 1970.
They attacked the box relentlessly and logged an astonishing 77 touches in the penalty area, while New Zealand had six. Both teams lined up in a 4-2-3-1, but Belgium’s structure tilted the pitch. Final-third entries finished 50-37 to Belgium, and they completed 154 of 193 actions in that phase for an 80% success rate.
In duels, Belgium held a 56% edge overall and won 59% on the ground in the second half. Interceptions finished 10-6 to Belgium and recoveries 47-38. On goalkeeping, Max Crocombe made five saves but faced a staggering volume of shots, resulting in a goals-prevented figure of -2.17.
Player Spotlights and Historic Milestones
Leandro Trossard earned Player of the Match honors for his lethal double. At the age of 31 years and 205 days, he became the second-oldest player to net a double in a World Cup game for Belgium. De Bruyne and Trossard were responsible for a whopping 14 of Belgium’s shots, registering seven each.
Romelu Lukaku came off the bench with 11 minutes left and immediately changed the game with a goal and an assist. In doing so, he became his nation’s outright leading scorer at the World Cup with his sixth goal, overtaking Marc Wilmots’ tally of five.
For the supporting cast, Hans Vanaken connected lines and supplied seven key passes (including the assist for the second goal). Full-backs Maxim De Cuyper and Timothy Castagne contributed controlled progression, combining for eight crosses and five key passes.
For New Zealand, Elijah Just was the sharpest threat, finishing with three shots, two on target, and a spectacular goal. Captain Chris Wood was limited to 16 touches but still created two key passes. Liberato Cacace provided energy down the flank with five crosses and steady ball carrying.
What This Means for Group G
As a statement of timing and execution, this was as polished as it gets in a World Cup group match. Belgium married control with punch, and the depth from the bench underlined a squad that travels well.
The Red Devils came into this contest on the back of scoring just two goals in their past five World Cup games. But their experienced attackers delivered as they ensured they did not come close to suffering successive group-stage exits. Topping Group G, Belgium will now prepare for the round of 32 full of confidence.
For New Zealand, the heavy defeat officially eliminates them from the World Cup 2026. They competed hard and produced a fine goal through Just, but the chance volume gap was decisive.
Read More: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H: Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia Match Report – Cabo Verde Make History as Debutants Advance After 0-0 Draw with Saudi Arabia
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H: Uruguay vs Spain Match Report – Álex Baena Secures 1-0 Win for Spain to Knock Uruguay Out
FAQs
What was the final score between Belgium and New Zealand?
Belgium thrashed New Zealand 5-1 in their final Group G match at the World Cup 2026.
Who scored the goals for Belgium?
Leandro Trossard scored a brace (two goals), Kevin De Bruyne added a third, and substitutes Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers scored late in the match.
What historical record did Romelu Lukaku break?
With his late header, Romelu Lukaku scored his 6th World Cup goal, surpassing Marc Wilmots (5) to become Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup.
How many shots did Belgium take in the match?
Belgium took 35 shots (10 on target) during the match, which ranks as their third-most shots in a World Cup match on record.
What is the status of both teams in the tournament?
With the victory, Belgium secured top spot in Group G and advances to the round of 32, while New Zealand finishes at the bottom of the group and is eliminated.
