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Group G reaches a decisive stage in Vancouver as winless Belgium take on bottom side New Zealand in a crucial World Cup 2026 clash in the early hours of Saturday, with knockout qualification still open for both nations.
The Red Devils have failed to live up to expectations after drawing both of their opening two encounters of the ongoing global tournament, while the All Whites remain in search of their first-ever win at the competition following a late collapse against Egypt.
Belgium currently sit third in Group G, behind second-placed Iran on goals scored, while New Zealand’s one point from their opening two games leaves them bottom of the bracket, meaning victory should suffice for either side to progress to the knockout stage.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions, as well as our best World Cup betting offers to give yourself the best chance of making some profit.
New Zealand vs. Belgium key stats
- Belgium have registered just six corners across their two 2026 World Cup group matches.
- Each of New Zealand’s last 11 competitive matches has produced over 2.5 goals.
- Kevin De Bruyne has registered 4+ shots in Belgium’s previous two World Cup fixtures.
- New Zealand have lost 10 of their last 13 games (W1, D2).
New Zealand vs. Belgium preview: World Cup survival on the line in Vancouver
New Zealand vs. Belgium — Squad Comparison
| New Zealand | vs | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | FIFA Ranking | 9 |
| Chris Wood (92) | Most Caps | Axel Witsel (138) |
| Chris Wood (45) | Most Goals | Romelu Lukaku (90) |
| 857 | Total Caps | 1117 |
| 109 | Total Goals | 214 |
| 0 | Uncapped Players | 1 |
New Zealand are currently featuring in their third World Cup appearance and are on the verge of another group stage exit, as seen in the 1982 and 2010 editions.
The All Whites are still without a win on football’s biggest stage, having lost four and drawn four of their eight previous World Cup matches.
Head coach Darren Bazeley will be aiming to end that drought and potentially secure progression, while also searching for solutions to his side’s tendency to concede late leads.
In their opening match, New Zealand twice took the lead against Iran, only to be pegged back each time in a 2-2 draw, before matchday two brought a 3-1 defeat despite Finn Surman opening the scoring inside 15 minutes.
Another concern for the Oceania side is their defensive record, having conceded in each of their last 13 matches, including two or more goals in six of their last eight outings.
Up front, New Zealand will rely on Nottingham Forest talisman Chris Wood, who leads the nation’s all-time scoring chart with 45 goals in 92 caps and will be targeting his first strike of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Belgium suffered a disappointing group stage exit in the 2022 edition, and this year’s campaign has offered little improvement for a side seeking redemption.
Rudi Garcia’s team opened with a 1-1 draw against Egypt before being held to a goalless draw by Iran on matchday two.
That result means the Red Devils are now four matches without a win in the global tournament, although Garcia can take encouragement from his side playing a large part of the Iran match with 10 men following Nathan Ngoy’s 66th-minute dismissal.
Belgium enter matchday three boosted by the return of Jeremy Doku after the Manchester City winger missed the second match due to illness and is expected to feature on the left flank.
New Zealand vs. Belgium form guide & betting tips
| New Zealand | vs | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
W
L
L
D
L
|
Form |
D
W
W
D
D
|
| 7 | Goals For | 9 |
| 11 | Goals Against | 2 |
D
L
|
World Cup 2026 |
D
D
|
Whispers predicts: New Zealand 1-3 Belgium
Belgium have shown in recent outings that they are unreliable even against lower-ranked opposition, so facing a New Zealand side ranked 76 places below them in the FIFA World Rankings does not guarantee a straightforward contest.
However, given the high stakes involved, Rudi Garcia’s side are still expected to prevail, with bookmakers reflecting that view through odds of 1.14 (7/50) for a Belgium win, while New Zealand are priced at 15.00 (14/1).
This suggests anything other than a Red Devils victory would be a major upset, although the low return reduces betting appeal.
The corner market stands out when reviewing both teams’ recent World Cup matches, making under 10 total corners an attractive option at 2.00 (1/1).
New Zealand have shown defensive weaknesses in recent outings, and Belgium are expected to exploit those gaps, particularly with Doku returning to strengthen the attack.
At the same time, the All Whites have shown attacking threat by scoring in both of their opening games, making BTTS at 2.25 (5/4) appealing, while over 2.5 goals is available at 1.44 (11/25).
That supports a 3-1 correct score prediction in favour of Belgium at 12.00 (11/1), which serves as the outsider selection.
There is also value in the player market, with De Bruyne frequently attempting shots from open play and set pieces, including direct free kicks, and averaging 4.5 shots across his two games at the 2026 World Cup, making Kevin De Bruyne 4+ shots stand out at 2.00 (1/1).
> Over 2.5 goals at 1.44 (11/25) | Likelihood: Likely
> BTTS – Yes at 2.25 (5/4) | Likelihood: Feasible
> Under 10 corners at 2.00 (1/1) | Likelihood: Feasible
> Kevin De Bruyne 4+ shots at 2.00 (1/1) | Likelihood: Feasible
> Correct score – New Zealand 1-3 Belgium at 12.00 (11/1) | Likelihood: Outsider