New Zealand vs Belgium - prediction, team news, lineups

New Zealand and Belgium quadrate disconnected successful Group G connected Friday nighttime with some teams requiring a triumph to warrant qualification for the past 32 of the World Cup.

Despite being unbeaten crossed 2 matches, Belgium cognize that a gully whitethorn not beryllium capable to progress, and that is thing is accusation to carnivore successful caput and is included successful our World Cup betting guide.

Match preview

Given Belgium's failings astatine the past 2 large tournaments, fewer radical volition beryllium amazed astir the struggles astatine this World Cup, contempt the evident prime that they person successful their ranks.

A 1-1 gully against Egypt, viewed arsenic their biggest rivals for apical spot successful Group G, was an acceptable result, adjacent if it took Romelu Lukaku coming disconnected the substitutes' seat to instigate an upturn successful fortunes.

However, the goalless gully versus Iran which followed has near Rudi Garcia's broadside needing 3 points against New Zealand to warrant a top-two spot.

If Egypt bushed Iran successful the different remaining fixture, Belgium cannot decorativeness higher than second, but whoever finishes arsenic runner-up faces a favourable result with Australia oregon Paraguay awaiting successful the adjacent round.

Nevertheless, that volition not beryllium connected the caput of Garcia and his players, who desperately request to find immoderate signifier contempt being connected a 15-match unbeaten streak (W9, D6) since March 2025.

Meanwhile, New Zealand stay successful contention to suffice for the knockout stages of a World Cup for the archetypal clip successful their history.

Twice letting gaffe a pb against Iran earlier posting a 2-2 gully frustrated manager Darren Bazeley, yet the All Whites volition realistically suffice for the past 32 with triumph successful Vancouver.

New Zealand had been successful power against Egypt, again taking an aboriginal lead, but their opponents netted 3 times betwixt the 58th and 82nd minutes to gain an invaluable win.

As good arsenic lone prevailing from 1 of their past 13 matches crossed each competitions, which was against a Chile broadside who were reduced to 10 men aft 27 minutes, New Zealand person not kept a cleanable expanse since a 1-0 triumph implicit a weakened Ivory Coast XI connected June 8, 2025.

Friday's showdown represents the archetypal clip that these 2 nations person ever met connected the planetary stage.

New Zealand World Cup form:

D L

New Zealand signifier (all competitions):

L W L L D L

Belgium World Cup form:

D D

Belgium signifier (all competitions):

W D W W D D

Team News

After travelling to London to witnesser the commencement of his archetypal child, Jeremy Doku volition re-join the Belgium squad anterior to this fixture.

However, it is unclear whether the Manchester City winger volition person an contiguous recall, oregon if 1 of Alexis Saelemaekers oregon Dodi Lukebakio volition diagnostic down the close flank.

With Nathan Ngoy suspended for the reddish paper that helium received against Iran, Arthur Theate appears apt to deputise successful the mediate of defence.

Timothy Castagne is pushing for a callback successful 1 of the full-back positions.

New Zealand brag Bazeley named an unchanged starting lineup for the Egypt crippled and retaining the aforesaid XI for this contention is simply a possibility.

Unless Ben Old oregon Francis de Vries are introduced successful 1 of the full-back roles, an unchanged starting lineup appears likely.

Despite grounds goalscorer Chris Wood failing to nett successful the opening 2 matches, the Nottingham Forest guardant supplied the assists for Elijah Just's 2 goals against Iran.

New Zealand imaginable starting lineup:

Crocombe; Payne, Surman, Boxall, Cacace; Stamenic, Bell; McCowatt, Singh, Just; Wood

Belgium imaginable starting lineup:

Courtois; Meunier, Theate, Mechele, De Cuyper; Raskin, Tielemans; Saelemaekers, De Bruyne, Trossard; Lukaku

We say: New Zealand 1-2 Belgium

New Zealand person shown successful their erstwhile 2 matches that they are susceptible of making a accelerated commencement to proceedings, and that could spot them summation power of this contest. However, we tin lone backmost the superior prime of Belgium to beryllium decisive, peculiarly erstwhile their 2026 World Cup aboriginal could beryllium connected it.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.