How can Belgium still qualify for Round of 32 of FIFA World Cup 2026?

Belgium have drawn both of their games at the FIFA World Cup.

Belgium have had a tough time at the FIFA World Cup. In the last couple of editions, they were seen as one of the favourites for the title. However, over time, they have lost the title, and their performance in the ongoing edition of the summer competition has been lacklustre.

They commenced their campaign against Egypt, with Mohamed Salah leading. Eman Ashour gave Egypt an early lead by scoring in the 19th minute. However, his party was spoiled in the second half when Mohammed Hany scored an own goal. The match ended 1-1.

Belgium locked horns against Iran in their second match of the group stage. De Rode Duivels dominated the game against Iran in terms of possession, taking 23 shots, of which were on target. However, they failed drastically to break the deadlock.

Romelu Lukaku performed poorly as the target man, while Alexis Saelemaekers struggled to create chances from the right wing. Kevin de Bruyne and Leandro Trossard played well, but the team failed to function as a unit, which is important for converting chances into goals. To make matters worse, Nathan Ngoy was shown a red card.

Technically, Belgium are yet to score their first goal in the tournament after two games. With two points after two games and one match in hand, what are the chances of Belgium qualifying for the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup?

Also Read: How can Scotland qualify for Round of 32 of FIFA World Cup 2026?

Can Belgium still qualify for the Round of 32?

De Rode Duivels will face New Zealand in their last group stage on Friday, June 26. Firstly, they would have to win the match. If they record the win, they will have five points, which would likely put them in a safe spot for direct qualification for the last 32.

A win would likely guide Belgium to the top two spots in Group G, where they are drawn alongside Iran, New Zealand and Egypt. However, if they play another draw and finish third in the table, they will be unlikely to be among the eight best-ranked third-place teams across all 12 groups.

And if they lose against New Zealand, their chances of qualification will almost be over. However, they would have to wait until the end of Matchday 3.

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