New Zealand - Belgium / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the New Zealand vs. Belgium match in Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, also broadcast live on JOJ Šport, kicks off at 05:00 CET.

The final round of Group G promises a direct and uncompromising battle for survival. Neither New Zealand nor the favored Belgium have tasted victory yet in the tournament, but their hopes of advancing remain alive heading into the final whistle. The math is clear: the team that wins this crucial encounter and secures three points will, with high probability, clinch a coveted spot in the knockout stage.

The island nation has showcased a very spirited and courageous brand of football in the tournament, but they've been undone by their second-half performances. In both their outings so far, they've demonstrated an ability to surprise theoretically stronger opponents, yet they lack the necessary consistency to close out games.

In their opening shootout against Iran, the New Zealanders quickly took the lead, only to then cede the initiative to their opponents. After Iran equalized before halftime, New Zealand again pulled ahead in the 54th minute, but Iran responded ten minutes later. The match, where the underdogs twice led the favorites, ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw, with points shared.

The script from the first match almost identically repeated itself against Egypt. New Zealand led 1-0 at halftime, but after the break, the African opponents completely dominated proceedings. Egypt created six clear-cut chances, converting three of them, leaving the island team empty-handed despite their excellent start.

The "Red Devils," traditionally boasting a squad full of renowned European talents, were expected to cruise. However, the reality is that the European giant has largely struggled to find its rhythm in the tournament, particularly in the final third.

Belgium started their opening match against Egypt poorly, trailing 0-1 at halftime and fortunate the deficit wasn't larger. The game leveled out after the break, and salvation for the favorites came only in the dying moments when they salvaged a 1-1 draw from one of their three major chances.

An improved performance came in their second match against Iran, but their finishing touch again failed them. Although the Belgians had the upper hand after the break and even pushed for a win despite being a man down due to a red card, the Iranian goalkeeper's fantastic display completely nullified their attackers, resulting in an unexpected goalless draw.

A three-point haul would be a massive upset for New Zealand, but keeping the Belgian offense at bay for the full 90 minutes will likely be beyond their capabilities. The European side possesses a significantly superior squad and should, at the third attempt, break their scoring drought, live up to their billing, and secure a victory.