2026 FIFA World Cup Group G: Schedule, Standings & Prediction
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G brings together Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand across three West Coast venues from June 15 to June 26. Belgium enter as clear favorites, ranked 9th in the world and unbeaten since March 2025 under manager Rudi Garcia.
Egypt carry genuine danger through Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, while Iran arrive under extraordinary circumstances after training in Turkey due to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. New Zealand return to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years, completing a group packed with compelling storylines.
The top two teams from Group G advance automatically to the Round of 32, with the third-place finisher also having a chance as one of the eight best third-place teams across all 12 groups. Belgium are the heavy favorites to top the group, but the race for second place between Egypt and Iran promises to go down to the wire on Matchday 3.
Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are playing what is almost certainly their final World Cup together, still chasing the trophy that eluded Belgium’s golden generation.
With all six matches spread across Seattle, Los Angeles and Vancouver, Group G is one of the most geographically and narratively rich groups of the tournament.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group G Teams
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Rank (Apr 2026) | WC Appearances | Pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | UEFA | #9 | 15th | 1 |
| Egypt | CAF | #29 | 4th | 2 |
| Iran | AFC | #21 | 7th | 3 |
| New Zealand | OFC | #85 | 3rd | 4 |
Group G Match Schedule 2026
All times are Eastern Time (ET). FOX and FS1 broadcast in English. Telemundo and Universo cover Spanish broadcasts. All matches stream on Peacock.
Matchday 1 (Monday, June 15)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium vs Egypt | 6:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Iran vs New Zealand | 9:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
Matchday 2 (Sunday, June 21)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium vs Iran | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
| New Zealand vs Egypt | 9:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
Matchday 3 (Friday, June 26)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt vs Iran | 11:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| New Zealand vs Belgium | 11:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
Belgium vs Egypt on June 15 in Seattle is the group’s key opening match. Both Matchday 3 games kick off simultaneously at 11:00 PM ET on June 26, keeping the qualification race open until the final whistle.
Group G Standings
Standings update after June 15, 2026.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Egypt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Iran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Top 2 teams advance automatically to the Round of 32
- Best 8 third-place teams across all 12 groups also advance
- 4 points almost guarantees third-place advancement; 3 points can work with a strong goal difference
Tiebreaker order: Goal difference > Goals scored > Head-to-head points > Head-to-head goal difference > Head-to-head goals scored > Fair play score > FIFA ranking
Venue Guide: Where Group G Matches are Played
| Match | Stadium | City | Capacity | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium vs Egypt | Lumen Field | Seattle | 68,740 | Hosts two Group G matches |
| Iran vs New Zealand | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA | 70,240 | Hosts two Group G matches |
| Belgium vs Iran | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA | 70,240 | Same venue as MD1 Iran match |
| New Zealand vs Egypt | BC Place | Vancouver | 54,500 | Hosts two Group G matches in Canada |
| Egypt vs Iran | Lumen Field | Seattle | 68,740 | Same venue as MD1 Belgium match |
| New Zealand vs Belgium | BC Place | Vancouver | 54,500 | Group G finale in Canada |
All six Group G matches are played at three venues on the US and Canadian West Coast. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is the largest Group G venue at 70,240 capacity.
How to Watch Group G Matches
| Country | TV Channels | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| USA | FOX, FS1, Telemundo, Universo | Peacock, FOX Sports App |
| UK | ITV, BBC | ITVX, BBC iPlayer |
| Canada | CTV, TSN, RDS | TSN+, CTV GO |
| Australia | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| Mexico | Televisa, TV Azteca, TUDN | ViX |
| Belgium | RTBF, VRT | RTBF Auvio, VRT Max |
| Egypt | beIN Sports, Al Kahera | beIN Sports Connect |
| Iran | IRIB TV3 | IRIB official stream |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Sport Now |
| France | M6, beIN Sports | 54 matches on M6 free |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF | ARD and ZDF free to air |
| Spain | RTVE, DAZN | RTVE free, DAZN all 104 |
Fans in other countries can check the full global broadcaster list at 2026 FIFA World Cup TV channels and broadcasting rights.
Group G Team Analysis and Preview
Belgium
Manager: Rudi Garcia (appointed January 2025)
Garcia won UEFA qualifying Group J unbeaten, clinching with a 7-0 win over Liechtenstein. In March 2026, Belgium beat the USA 5-2 in Atlanta even without Courtois or Lukaku in the starting lineup. Doku caused problems all afternoon, Onana scored his first international goal, and De Ketelaere converted a penalty. Belgium have not lost a match since March 2025.
Key players: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli, all-time top scorer 89 goals), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, GK), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Lois Openda (Juventus, on loan from RB Leipzig), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa, captain).
World Cup record: 15 appearances. Best finish: 3rd place (2018).
Last appearance: 2022 group-stage exit.
Egypt
Manager: Hossam Hassan
Hassan became the first person ever to take Egypt to a World Cup both as a player (1990) and as head coach. He is also Egypt’s all-time top scorer with 69 international goals. Egypt won their CAF qualifying group unbeaten across 10 matches with just two goals conceded, finishing five points clear of Burkina Faso. Salah missed the March 2026 friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Spain with an injury but Egypt drew Spain 0-0 in Barcelona without him.
Key players: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, captain, 67 goals), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly, GK), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly).
World Cup record: 4 appearances (1934, 1990, 2018, 2026). First since 2018.
Notable: Egypt have never won a World Cup match in their history. Salah at 33 is in the final chapter of his international career.
Iran
Manager: Amir Ghalenoei (second stint, since March 2023)
Iran topped AFC Third Round Group A, losing just one of 16 matches and finishing eight points clear of UAE. Due to the US-Israel-Iran war, Iran requested FIFA to move their matches to Mexico. FIFA President Infantino rejected the request on March 31, 2026 in Antalya, confirming: “Iran will be at the World Cup.” Iran trained and played both March friendlies in Turkey, beating Costa Rica 5-0 and losing to Nigeria 2-1.
Key players: Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos, captain, 56+ goals), Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor, GK), Sardar Azmoun, Saman Ghoddos (Al Ittihad Kalba), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (KVC Westerlo).
World Cup record: 7 appearances. 4th consecutive appearance.
Best finish: Group stage every time. Never reached the knockout rounds. Beat Wales 2-0 in 2022.
New Zealand
Manager: Darren Bazeley (since 2023)
Bazeley is a former Watford, Wolves and Walsall defender who moved to New Zealand in 2005. New Zealand qualified via the OFC direct pathway, a route that only opened up due to the expanded 48-team format. They won all five OFC qualifying matches, beat Fiji 7-0 in the semi-final and New Caledonia 3-0 in the final, conceding just one goal across the entire campaign.
Key players: Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest, captain, all-time record scorer 45+ goals), Liberato Cacace (Wrexham), Marko Stamenic (Swansea City), Matthew Garbett (Peterborough United), Tyler Bindon (Sheffield United), Sarpreet Singh, Max Crocombe (Millwall, GK).
World Cup record: 3 appearances (1982, 2010, 2026).
Best finish: Group stage (drew all 3 games in 2010 including vs Italy and Netherlands). Never won a World Cup match. First World Cup since 2010.
Head-to-Head Records
| Matchup | Record | Last Result | World Cup H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium vs Egypt | Belgium edge | Egypt won 1-0 (2024 FIFA Series) | 0 WC meetings |
| Belgium vs Iran | Never met | First ever June 21 | 0 |
| Belgium vs New Zealand | Never met | First ever June 26 | 0 |
| Egypt vs Iran | Egypt edge | Egypt won 1-0 (2024 FIFA Series) | 0 WC meetings |
| Egypt vs New Zealand | Limited meetings | Egypt won on pens (2000, drew 1-1) | 0 WC meetings |
| Iran vs New Zealand | Iran edge | Iran won 3-0 (2003 AFC-OFC Cup) | 0 WC meetings |
Belgium and Iran have never played each other. Belgium and New Zealand have never played each other. Four of six Group G fixtures are first-ever meetings, making head-to-head records largely irrelevant heading into June.
Why Group G is Interesting
- Egypt have never won a World Cup match. Salah at 33 makes this their best ever chance to finally change that
- Iran are preparing from a training camp in Turkey due to the US-Israel-Iran war, with FIFA confirming participation only after Infantino’s direct intervention
- Hossam Hassan became the first person in history to take Egypt to a World Cup both as a player (1990) and as head coach
- Belgium beat the USA 5-2 in March 2026 without Courtois or Lukaku starting, showing their depth heading into the tournament
- New Zealand qualified via the OFC direct path that only exists because the World Cup expanded to 48 teams. Chris Wood scored 9 goals across the campaign
- Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are entering what is almost certainly their last World Cup together, still searching for the trophy Belgium’s golden generation never won
- Belgium vs Iran on June 21 in Los Angeles is the first-ever meeting between the two nations
2026 World Cup Group G Predictions
- Matchday 1: Belgium 2-0 Egypt. Iran 1-0 New Zealand.
- Matchday 2: Belgium 2-1 Iran. Egypt 2-0 New Zealand.
- Matchday 3: Egypt 1-1 Iran. New Zealand 0-3 Belgium.
Our Final Predicted Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 9 | Advance |
| 2 | Egypt | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | Advance |
| 3 | Iran | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 4 | Eliminated |
| 4 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 | Eliminated |
Belgium win the group comfortably. Egypt advance as runners-up on goal difference after the predicted draw with Iran on Matchday 3. Iran finish third with four points but a negative goal difference, unlikely to advance as one of the best third-place teams.
- 4 points: almost guaranteed advance to Round of 32
- 3 points: possible with a strong goal difference
- 1-2 points: very unlikely to advance
Group G Road to the Round of 32
| Finish | Next Match | Date | Venue | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Round of 32 | TBD | TBD | Group H runner-up |
| 2nd | Round of 32 | TBD | TBD | Group H winner |
The Group G winner faces the Group H runner-up in the Round of 32. The Group G runner-up faces the Group H winner. Group H consists of Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group G FAQs
Who is in Group G at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Group G consists of Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.
When does Group G start?
Group G opens on Monday, June 15, 2026, with Belgium vs Egypt at 6:00 PM ET at Lumen Field in Seattle, and Iran vs New Zealand at 9:00 PM ET at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Will Iran play at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. FIFA President Infantino confirmed on March 31, 2026 that Iran will compete. He attended Iran’s friendly in Turkey and stated: “Iran will be at the World Cup.” All Group G matches will be played at their scheduled US venues.
Has Egypt ever won a World Cup match?
No. Egypt have never won a match at the FIFA World Cup. They appeared at the 1934, 1990, 2018 and now 2026 editions without a single victory.
Is this New Zealand’s first World Cup since 2010?
Yes. New Zealand last appeared at the 2010 World Cup where they drew all three group matches. The 2026 tournament is their return after a 16-year absence and only their third appearance in history.
Who is Belgium’s manager for 2026?
Belgium’s manager is Rudi Garcia, appointed in January 2025. He previously managed Lille, Roma, Marseille, Lyon, Al-Nassr and Napoli and guided Belgium through qualifying Group J unbeaten.
What is Iran’s World Cup record?
Iran are making their seventh World Cup appearance and fourth consecutive. They have never reached the knockout rounds. Best-known results include a 2-1 win over the USA in 1998 and a 2-0 win over Wales in 2022.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G delivers more human drama than almost any other group. Belgium arrive as favorites with a decade of near-misses behind them. Egypt carry Salah into what may be his final World Cup still searching for their first-ever win.
Iran prepare under extraordinary conditions in a World Cup hosted by a country at war with their nation. New Zealand return after 16 years with Chris Wood leading the line in what is likely his last chance on the biggest stage.
The Group G schedule runs from June 15 to June 26 and the final standings stay open until both Matchday 3 games kick off simultaneously at 11:00 PM ET on June 26.
