New Zealand 1-5 Belgium: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 match
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Belgium are through to the round of 32.
Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 to move on to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup after a sluggish start. All thanks to two goals from Leandro Trossard and others.
Belgium won Group G with a scoring explosion. The game took place concurrently with Egypt and Iran’s other group final in Seattle, which resulted in a 1-1 tie.
The Belgians entered the game unexpectedly third in their group. They previously got a 0-0 draw against Iran and a 1-1 tie against Egypt.
Five key takeaways from the FIFA World Cup 2026 match
5. Belgium achieve first win of 2026 World Cup
A feeble Belgium finally earned their first win of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They trounced New Zealand 5-1 in their last group encounter to claim the top spot of Group G. They qualify for the round of 32.
Their World Cup campaign began with a 1-1 draw against Egypt. It was followed by another 0-0 scoreless stalemate with Iran before finally achieving their first win of the tournament.
4. Kevin De Bruyne first Belgian player to score in three different World Cups
Kevin De Bruyne became the first Belgian player to score a goal in three World Cups: 2014, 2018, and 2026. The renowned midfielder carved his name into history with goals in three editions. It set him apart from other Belgian greats who only scored in two.
3. Leandro Trossard, hero of the match
Leandro Trossard was Belgium’s unquestionable hero against New Zealand. He delivered a stunning display to win a 5-1 victory in their vital FIFA World Cup Group stage encounter. The Arsenal winger scored twice and assisted once to help the Red Devils progress.
Trossard scored in the 28th minute and doubled his advantage in the 50th minute. Following his brace, he also became the first Belgian player to score 2+ goals in a World Cup match since Romelu Lukaku vs Tunisia in 2018.
2. New Zealand eliminated
The men’s national football team of New Zealand were eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to Belgium 5-1 in Vancouver on June 26, 2026. Thus failing to make it past the group stage. The All Whites needed to win their last Group G game to survive.
The Belgian team defeated New Zealand in the second half to formally end their tournament run, despite a heroic effort.
Also read: FIFA World Cup 2026: List of all nations eliminated from group stage
1. Romelu Lukaku becomes top scorer for Belgium at the World Cup
Romelu Lukaku is now the Belgian player with the most World Cup goals. He broke the tournament record set by Marc Wilmots, who had five goals.
Furthermore, it was Lukaku’s first goal of the 2026 World Cup. It came at the perfect moment as he led the Red Devils to the tournament’s round of 32 and became their all-time top scorer.
Also read: Romelu Lukaku: List of all goals in FIFA World Cup history
Where did Belgium finish in the Group?
They finished top of the group.
Did they qualify for the round of 32?
Yes, with only one win.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.