Group G witnessed a major shift in momentum at the FIFA World Cup 2026 as Egypt produced a stunning second-half comeback against New Zealand, while Iran frustrated Belgium in a hard-fought goalless draw. The results leave Egypt in control of the group ahead of a decisive final round of fixtures.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G Matchday Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Belgium vs Iran | Belgium 0-0 Iran |
| New Zealand vs Egypt | New Zealand 1-3 Egypt |
Belgium 0-0 Iran
Key Match Moments
Belgium’s FIFA World Cup struggles continued as they were held to a goalless draw by Iran.
The Red Devils dominated possession and attacking opportunities throughout the contest, producing 23 shots and generating significant pressure on the Iranian defence.
Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand delivered another outstanding performance, making seven saves, including a remarkable stop from point-blank range to deny Kevin De Bruyne early in the second half.
Iran also created dangerous moments of their own. Mehdi Taremi thought he had opened the scoring in the 25th minute, but the opportunity went begging. Both Taremi and Sardar Azmoun later forced Thibaut Courtois into important saves.
The key moment arrived in the 66th minute when Nathan Ngoy received a red card after bringing down Taremi while the Iranian forward was through on goal.
Despite playing the final stages with ten men, Belgium managed to avoid defeat. However, they remain without a victory after two group-stage matches.
FIFA World Cup 2026 (Group G): Belgium vs Iran Official Match Stats
Key Match Moments Timeline
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 66′ | Nathan Ngoy (Belgium) sent off |
| Full Time | Iran hold Belgium to 0-0 draw |
Key Match Record
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Consecutive Draws | Iran’s second successive draw |
| Belgium Status | Winless after two matches |
New Zealand 1-3 Egypt
Key Match Moments
New Zealand made a dream start to the match.
In the 15th minute, Finn Surman scored from close range to give the All Whites a 1-0 lead.
Egypt struggled to find their rhythm during the first half, but the African side transformed the match after the break.
In the 58th minute, Mostafa Zico equalised for Egypt, finishing from close range after excellent work inside the penalty area.
Just nine minutes later, Zico turned provider as he played Mohamed Salah into space. The Egyptian captain calmly finished to complete the comeback and give Egypt a 2-1 lead.
Egypt continued to push forward and secured the victory in the 82nd minute. Trézéguet powered home a diving header to score Egypt’s third goal of the match.
The Pharaohs nearly added a fourth goal in stoppage time, but New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe produced an excellent save.
FIFA World Cup 2026 (Group G): New Zealand vs Egypt Official Match Stats
Goals Timeline
| Minute | Scorer |
|---|---|
| 15′ | Finn Surman (New Zealand) |
| 58′ | Mostafa Zizo (Egypt) |
| 67′ | Mohamed Salah (Egypt) |
| 82′ | Trézéguet (Egypt) |
Key Match Record
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Second-Half Goals | Egypt scored all three goals after half-time |
| Group Position | Egypt move to the top of Group G |
FIFA World Cup 2026: Group G Complete Schedule
Matchday Summary
Egypt produced an impressive second-half comeback to defeat New Zealand 3-1 and move to the top of Group G. Elsewhere, Iran frustrated Belgium in a goalless draw despite creating several dangerous opportunities of their own. The results leave Egypt in a strong position heading into the final round of FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage fixtures.