Belgium produced their best performance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far with a ruthless 5–1 victory over New Zealand, sealing qualification for the Round of 32 as Group G winners in an entertaining encounter at BC Place in Vancouver.
After struggling to impress in their opening two matches, the Red Devils finally found their rhythm, delivering an attacking masterclass inspired by Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard, who scored twice, while captain Kevin De Bruyne, veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers also found the back of the net. New Zealand’s only response came through Elijah Just, whose late strike proved nothing more than a consolation.
The emphatic victory ensured Belgium finished top of Group G on goal difference ahead of Egypt, who also progressed after playing out a 1–1 draw with Iran. For New Zealand, the defeat ended their World Cup journey despite moments of resilience throughout the tournament.
Belgium entered the decisive fixture knowing that only a victory would guarantee passage into the knockout rounds. Coach Rudi Garcia responded by making several changes to his starting lineup, seeking greater creativity and attacking urgency after two underwhelming performances earlier in the competition.
From the opening whistle, Belgium dominated possession and pinned New Zealand deep inside their own half. The Red Devils moved the ball with confidence, creating several early opportunities while denying the Oceania side any meaningful attacking threat.
Belgium nearly opened the scoring inside the first 20 minutes when Leandro Trossard struck the inside of the post with a powerful angled effort. The rebound fell kindly for New Zealand defender Tyler Bindon, who reacted quickly to clear the danger before the ball crossed the line.
Moments later, Belgium thought they had earned a penalty after Trossard’s shot appeared to strike Finn Surman’s arm inside the penalty area. However, following a VAR review, the referee overturned the decision, ruling that no offence had been committed.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 28th minute. Belgium capitalised on a corner kick that New Zealand failed to clear effectively. After Tim Payne’s attempted clearance fell kindly inside the six yard box, Leandro Trossard reacted quickest to slot home from close range, giving Belgium a deserved 1–0 lead.
The goal settled Belgium, who continued to dictate the tempo through the outstanding midfield pairing of Kevin De Bruyne and Hans Vanaken. Their intelligent passing repeatedly stretched New Zealand’s defensive line, creating spaces for the attacking players to exploit.
Belgium doubled their advantage just five minutes into the second half. In the 50th minute, Jeremy Doku’s electrifying run down the left wing unsettled the defence before Hans Vanaken found Trossard inside the penalty area. Although his initial effort was blocked, the Arsenal winger reacted brilliantly to fire the rebound into the roof of the net for his second goal of the evening.
With a comfortable lead established, Belgium continued to press forward rather than protect the result. Their third goal arrived in the 66th minute, courtesy of captain Kevin De Bruyne. The Manchester City playmaker finished a flowing team move with a composed strike beyond goalkeeper Max Crocombe, effectively ending New Zealand’s hopes of a comeback.
To their credit, New Zealand refused to surrender. Coach Darren Bazeley encouraged his players to keep attacking, and their persistence was finally rewarded in the 84th minute when Elijah Just finished confidently to reduce the deficit to 3–1. The goal marked his third of the tournament and further strengthened his reputation as one of New Zealand’s brightest attacking talents.
Any hopes of a dramatic revival were quickly extinguished.
Just two minutes later, substitute Romelu Lukaku made an immediate impact. Introduced from the bench, the experienced striker needed only moments to score in the 86th minute, restoring Belgium’s three goal advantage with a composed finish after excellent build up play.
Belgium completed the rout deep into stoppage time when Alexis Saelemaekers found the net in the 90+4th minute, putting the finishing touch on an outstanding attacking display and sealing a comprehensive 5–1 victory.
The result represented Belgium’s first victory of the tournament after opening with a draw against Egypt and another stalemate against Iran. Coach Rudi Garcia praised the leadership and experience of his senior players, insisting their performance answered critics who had questioned the squad’s age profile before the match.
Leandro Trossard deservedly emerged as the Player of the Match after scoring twice and constantly troubling New Zealand’s defence with his intelligent movement and sharp finishing. Kevin De Bruyne orchestrated play brilliantly from midfield, while Lukaku demonstrated once again why he remains one of Belgium’s most reliable goalscorers despite starting on the bench.
For New Zealand, the defeat marked the end of an encouraging World Cup campaign. Although they finished bottom of Group G with one point, the All Whites earned respect for their fighting spirit and competitiveness throughout the tournament. Elijah Just’s impressive performances, including his third World Cup goal, offered supporters plenty of optimism for the future.
Belgium now head into the Round of 32 with renewed confidence after producing their most complete display of the competition. Having topped Group G, the Red Devils will face one of the best third placed teams from Groups A, I or J as they continue their quest for a first FIFA World Cup title.
Match Summary
Belgium 5–1 New Zealand
Goal Scorers:
28′ Leandro Trossard (Belgium)
50′ Leandro Trossard (Belgium)
66′ Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
84′ Elijah Just (New Zealand)
86′ Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
90+4′ Alexis Saelemaekers (Belgium)
