FIFA World Cup 2026 · Final Draw
GROUP G
5 December 2025 · Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
Belgium
Pot 1 · #9
Egypt
Pot 2 · #29
Iran
Pot 3 · #21
New Zealand
Pot 4 · #85
THE TOP-WEIGHTED GROUP
Group G.
The top-weighted group.
On the fifth of December twenty twenty-five, at the Kennedy Center in Washington D C, the balls came out.
Belgium.
Egypt.
Iran.
And New Zealand.
Four teams.
Four confederations.
The widest rank spread of any group with an OFC side.
Group G · By the Numbers
Four teams. 76 places between top and bottom.
Belgium
FIFA #9
Garcia · €700M+ squad
Egypt
FIFA #29
Hassan · 10-0-0 quals
Iran
FIFA #21
Ghalenoei · 4th WC
New Zealand
FIFA #85
Bazeley · 3rd WC
Here they are by the numbers.
Belgium.
FIFA ranked ninth.
Rudi Garcia, the Frenchman, in charge.
Squad value estimated above seven hundred million euros.
Egypt.
Ranked twenty-ninth.
Hossam Hassan on the touchline.
Perfect ten and zero qualifying.
Iran.
Ranked twenty-first.
Amir Ghalenoei in charge.
A fourth consecutive World Cup.
And New Zealand.
Ranked eighty-fifth.
Darren Bazeley leading the All Whites.
Their third World Cup ever.
Group G · The Favourites
Belgium
FIFA #9
Group G · The Favourites
BELGIUM
Highest-ranked team in Group G by 12 places. Garcia's pressing 4-3-3 with De Bruyne deep, Doku wide, Lukaku as the target, Courtois behind. Belgium were ranked #1 for 1,140+ consecutive days and never won a World Cup.
€700M+
Squad Value
UEFA-J
Group Winners
1,140 DAYS
World #1 streak
Head Coach
Rudi Garcia
⚠ Golden generation aging · De Bruyne 34 · Lukaku 31 · last realistic shot
Let's start at the top.
Belgium.
FIFA ranked ninth.
Rudi Garcia, the Frenchman, appointed on the twenty-fourth of January twenty twenty-five.
Ex-Roma, Marseille, Napoli.
Squad value estimated above seven hundred million euros.
The highest ranked team in Group G by twelve places.
Belgium were ranked number one in the world for over eleven hundred consecutive days, from November twenty eighteen to January twenty twenty-two, and never won the World Cup.
Their best ever finish was third place in twenty eighteen.
In Qatar twenty twenty-two, they were eliminated at the group stage.
The strength is their core.
The weakness is age.
De Bruyne thirty-four.
Lukaku thirty-one.
This is their last realistic shot.
BELGIUM · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Belgian players to watch
1/4
BELGIUM · ARCHITECT · CM
Kevin De Bruyne
34
Age
Napoli
Club
115
Caps
36
Goals
★ Most goals by any midfielder in UEFA WC2026 qualifying — 6 goals + 1 assist in 6 matches. Three-time Champions League winner with Manchester City. This is his final World Cup.
Kevin De Bruyne.
The architect.
Thirty-four years old.
S S C Napoli in Serie A.
One hundred and fifteen caps, thirty-six goals.
Six goals and one assist in six qualifying matches.
The most goals by any midfielder in UEFA World Cup twenty twenty-six qualifying.
Three-time Champions League winner with Manchester City.
This is his final World Cup.
BELGIUM · NUMBER 9
Romelu Lukaku
31
Age
Napoli
Club
124
Caps
89
Goals
★ Belgium's all-time top scorer. The only Belgian to reach 80+ international goals. 19 World Cup qualifying goals across his career. Permanent move to Napoli in August 2024.
Romelu Lukaku.
The number nine.
Thirty-one years old.
S S C Napoli, joined permanently in August twenty twenty-four for around thirty million euros.
One hundred and twenty-four caps.
Eighty-nine goals.
Belgium's all-time top scorer.
The only Belgian ever to reach eighty international goals.
Nineteen World Cup qualifying goals across his career.
BELGIUM · LEFT WING
Jérémy Doku
23
Age
Man City
Club
~30
Caps
BRACE
vs LIE 18 Nov
★ Garcia called him the player who lights the fuse. Scored twice against Liechtenstein on 18 November 2025 to seal qualification. Belgium's most explosive transition weapon.
Jérémy Doku.
The left winger.
Twenty-three years old.
Manchester City.
Around thirty caps.
Scored twice against Liechtenstein on the eighteenth of November twenty twenty-five to seal qualification.
Garcia called him the player who lights the fuse after his contributions in a five-two friendly win over the U S A in March.
Belgium's most explosive transition weapon.
BELGIUM · GOALKEEPER
Thibaut Courtois
33
Age
Real Madrid
Club
107
Caps
2018
WC Golden Glove
★ Won the 2018 World Cup Golden Glove. Multiple Champions League titles with Real Madrid. Returned to the national team under Garcia in March 2025. Contract extended to 2028.
Thibaut Courtois.
The goalkeeper.
Thirty-three years old.
Real Madrid, contract extended to twenty twenty-eight.
One hundred and seven caps.
Won the twenty eighteen World Cup Golden Glove.
Multiple Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
Returned to the national team under Garcia in March twenty twenty-five.
Group G · Salah's Last Dance
Egypt
FIFA #29
Group G · Salah's Last Dance
EGYPT
Hossam Hassan — Egypt's all-time leading scorer with 69 goals — is now the manager. Egypt won CAF Group A with a perfect 10-0-0 record and +18 goal differential. Salah at 33 on his unfinished business tour.
€150-200M
Squad Value
10-0-0
+18 GD CAF Group A
SALAH 33
Unfinished business
Head Coach
Hossam Hassan
⚠ Never advanced past WC group stage in 4 attempts · squad depth drops sharply after top players
Now.
Egypt.
Ranked twenty-ninth.
Hossam Hassan, Egypt's all-time leading scorer with sixty-nine goals, in charge.
Squad value estimated around one hundred and fifty to two hundred million euros.
Egypt qualified by winning CAF Group A with ten wins, zero draws, zero losses.
Plus eighteen goal differential.
The most dominant African qualifying campaign in memory.
The strength is Salah at thirty-three on his unfinished business tour.
The weakness is history.
Four World Cup appearances.
Zero advances past the group stage.
EGYPT · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Egyptian players to watch
1/4
EGYPT · CAPTAIN · RW
Mohamed Salah
33
Age
Liverpool
Club
100+
Caps
67
Goals
★ All-time top scorer in African World Cup qualifying history with 20 goals. Confirmed leaving Liverpool at end of 2025-26 season. FIFA call this his unfinished business.
Mohamed Salah.
The captain.
Thirty-three years old.
Liverpool in the Premier League, confirmed leaving at the end of the twenty twenty-five twenty twenty-six season.
Over one hundred caps, sixty-seven goals.
The all-time top scorer in African World Cup qualifying history with twenty goals.
Scored a brace against Djibouti to seal qualification.
FIFA call this his unfinished business.
EGYPT · FORWARD
Omar Marmoush
26
Age
Man City
Club
35+
Caps
AFCON
2× scorer 2025
★ Led the Bundesliga scoring charts at Frankfurt before the January 2025 move to Man City. Scored twice at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as Egypt reached the semi-finals. The release valve when Salah is double-marked.
Omar Marmoush.
The forward.
Twenty-six years old.
Manchester City, signed in January twenty twenty-five from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Thirty-five plus caps.
Led the Bundesliga scoring charts at Frankfurt before the move.
Scored twice at the twenty twenty-five Africa Cup of Nations as Egypt reached the semi-finals.
The release valve when Salah is double-marked.
EGYPT · CENTRE-BACK
Ahmed Hegazi
34
Age
Al-Ittihad
Club
88
Caps
ANCHOR
since 2018
★ Egypt's most capped active outfield defender. The defensive anchor through the 2018 World Cup and multiple Africa Cup of Nations campaigns. Aerial presence and dressing-room leader.
Ahmed Hegazi.
The centre-back.
Thirty-four years old.
Last confirmed at Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.
Eighty-eight caps.
Egypt's most capped active outfield defender.
The defensive anchor through the twenty eighteen World Cup and multiple Africa Cup of Nations campaigns.
Aerial presence and dressing-room leader.
EGYPT · STRIKER
Mostafa Mohamed
26
Age
Nantes
Club
~35
Caps
~15
Goals
★ Egypt's primary central forward when Salah drifts to the right. Scored key goals in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations final run. The reference point in the box.
Mostafa Mohamed.
The striker.
Twenty-six years old.
Last confirmed at Nantes in Ligue 1.
Around thirty-five caps, fifteen goals.
Egypt's primary central forward when Salah drifts to the right.
Scored key goals in the twenty twenty-two Africa Cup of Nations final run.
The reference point in the box.
Group G · Fourth Consecutive WC
Iran
FIFA #21
Group G · Fourth Consecutive WC
IRAN
Ghalenoei in charge since 2023. Sealed via a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan on 25 March 2025 — Taremi scored both. Fourth consecutive World Cup. Seven appearances overall, zero knockout-stage runs.
€60-80M
Squad Value
2-2 UZB
Taremi brace · 25 Mar
4TH WC
in a row
Head Coach
Amir Ghalenoei
⚠ Azmoun expelled March 2026 over political post · Iran without their #2 all-time scorer (57 goals)
Now.
Iran.
Ranked twenty-first.
Amir Ghalenoei, in charge since twenty twenty-three.
Squad value estimated around sixty to eighty million euros.
Iran qualified through the AFC third round, sealed by a two-two draw with Uzbekistan on the twenty-fifth of March twenty twenty-five.
Taremi scored both goals.
This is Iran's fourth consecutive World Cup.
Seven appearances overall, zero knockout-stage runs.
The weakness is the Azmoun absence.
Sardar Azmoun, Iran's number two all-time scorer with fifty-seven goals, was expelled in March twenty twenty-six over a political social media post.
Iran are arriving without their second-best attacker.
IRAN · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Iranian players to watch
1/4
IRAN · NUMBER 9
Mehdi Taremi
33
Age
Olympiacos
Club
100
Caps
56
Goals
★ Provided the decisive assist to Frattesi in the 99th minute of extra time in the 2025 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. 10 goals + 2 assists at Olympiacos this season.
Mehdi Taremi.
The number nine.
Thirty-three years old.
Olympiacos in Greece, signed on the thirty-first of August twenty twenty-five from Inter Milan.
One hundred caps, fifty-six goals.
Iran's third all-time top scorer.
Provided the decisive assist to Frattesi in the ninety-ninth minute of extra time in the twenty twenty-five Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.
Ten goals and two assists at Olympiacos this season.
IRAN · CAPTAIN · LW
Alireza Jahanbakhsh
32
Age
FCV Dender
Club
94
Caps
38
Goals
★ Featured on the official 2026 FIFA World Cup poster. Fourth consecutive World Cup. Joined Dender EH from Feyenoord on 4 November 2025. Iran's creative leader.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
The captain.
Thirty-two years old.
F C V Dender E H in Belgium, joined on the fourth of November twenty twenty-five from Feyenoord.
Ninety-four caps, thirty-eight goals.
Featured on the official twenty twenty-six FIFA World Cup poster.
A fourth consecutive World Cup.
Iran's creative leader.
IRAN · GOALKEEPER
Alireza Beiranvand
33
Age
Tractor
Club
66
Caps
CR7 PEN
saved 2018
★ Saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at the 2018 World Cup against Portugal. Iranian Footballer of the Year 2019. Iran's single biggest weapon against quality opposition.
Alireza Beiranvand.
The goalkeeper.
Thirty-three years old.
Tractor in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
Sixty-six caps.
Saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at the twenty eighteen World Cup against Portugal.
Iranian Footballer of the Year twenty nineteen.
Iran's single biggest weapon against quality opposition.
IRAN · RIGHT WING
Ali Gholizadeh
30
Age
Lech Poznań
Club
52
Caps
5G/4A
Ekstraklasa
★ 5 goals and 4 assists in the Ekstraklasa this season. Belgium's Charleroi from 2018 to 2023. The directness on the right that balances Jahanbakhsh on the left.
Ali Gholizadeh.
The right winger.
Thirty years old.
Lech Poznań in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
Fifty-two caps, fourteen goals.
Five goals and four assists in the Ekstraklasa this season.
Belgium's Charleroi from twenty eighteen to twenty twenty-three.
The directness on the right that balances Jahanbakhsh on the left.
Group G · The All Whites
New Zealand
FIFA #85
Group G · The All Whites
NEW ZEALAND
Bazeley appointed November 2022. Qualified through OFC third round, beating New Caledonia. The 48-team expansion meant no inter-confederation play-off — the hurdle that knocked them out in 2014, 2018, and 2022.
€20-30M
Squad Value
OFC R3
beat New Caledonia
2010 UNB
3D · only unbeaten side
Head Coach
Darren Bazeley
⚠ Zero WC wins ever (0W 3D 3L) · Wood 34 with December knee surgery
And finally.
New Zealand.
Ranked eighty-fifth.
Darren Bazeley, the Englishman, appointed in November twenty twenty-two.
Squad value estimated around twenty to thirty million euros.
New Zealand qualified through the OFC third round, beating New Caledonia.
The forty-eight team expansion meant no inter-confederation play-off, which had eliminated them in twenty fourteen, twenty eighteen, and twenty twenty-two.
The strength is their twenty ten record.
Three draws, unbeaten, the only team in that tournament to leave without losing.
The weakness is harder.
Zero World Cup wins ever.
Three draws and three losses across two tournaments.
Wood at thirty-four with a knee that needed surgery in December.
NEW ZEALAND · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 New Zealand players to watch
1/4
NEW ZEALAND · CAPTAIN · ST
Chris Wood
34
Age
Notts Forest
Club
88
Caps
45
Goals
★ New Zealand men's all-time top scorer. Knee surgery December 2025; returned March 2026 and scored in his first game back after 5 months out. Led OFC qualifying with 9 goals.
Chris Wood.
The captain.
Thirty-four years old.
Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Eighty-eight caps, forty-five goals.
New Zealand men's all-time top scorer.
Knee surgery in December twenty twenty-five, returned in March twenty twenty-six and scored in his first game back after five months out.
Led OFC qualifying with nine goals.
NEW ZEALAND · LEFT-BACK
Liberato Cacace
25
Age
Wrexham
Club
35
Caps
FA CUP
vs NFFC Jan 26
★ Scored his first Wrexham goal in January 2026 in an FA Cup 3-3 with Nottingham Forest. Suffered a hamstring setback in March. New Zealand's most dynamic defender and primary cross-creator.
Liberato Cacace.
The left-back.
Twenty-five years old.
Wrexham in the Championship, joined from Empoli.
Thirty-five caps.
Scored his first Wrexham goal in January twenty twenty-six in an F A Cup three-three with Nottingham Forest.
Suffered a hamstring setback in March.
New Zealand's most dynamic defender and primary cross-creator.
NEW ZEALAND · MIDFIELDER
Marko Stamenić
24
Age
Swansea
Club
~35
Caps
WLG
Wellington-born
★ Came through FC Copenhagen's academy, with a stint at Red Star Belgrade and a Nottingham Forest loan at Olympiacos. The engine of the All Whites midfield for the next decade.
Marko Stamenić.
The midfielder.
Twenty-four years old.
Swansea City in the Championship, after a Nottingham Forest loan at Olympiacos.
Around thirty-five caps.
Wellington-born, came through F C Copenhagen's academy with a stint at Red Star Belgrade.
The engine of the All Whites midfield for the next decade.
NEW ZEALAND · MIDFIELDER
Elijah Just
25
Age
Motherwell
Club
42
Caps
9
Goals
★ Second-most capped current midfielder in the All Whites after Stamenić. Late runs and set-piece delivery in a team short on attacking options.
Elijah Just.
The midfielder.
Twenty-five years old.
Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.
Forty-two caps, nine goals.
The second-most capped current midfielder in the All Whites after Stamenić.
Late runs and set-piece delivery in a team short on attacking options.
Group G · Schedule
6 GAMES. 4 TEAMS.
One path out.
BEL
EGY
IRN
NZL
Now the matches.
GROUP G · SCHEDULE
All 6 Group G matches
1/6
MATCHDAY 1 · 15 JUN
Belgium vs Egypt
15 Jun 2026 · 12:00 local
Belgium
VS
Egypt
Lumen Field · Seattle WA · ~69,000 seats
DE BRUYNE vs SALAH
★ Home of the Seahawks and Sounders. Natural grass laid specifically for this World Cup. The group's headline opener.
Match one.
The fifteenth of June.
Belgium versus Egypt.
Lumen Field in Seattle.
Sixty-nine thousand seats.
Home of the Seahawks and the Sounders.
Natural grass laid specifically for this World Cup.
Twelve noon local kickoff.
De Bruyne against Salah.
The group's headline opener.
MATCHDAY 1 · 15 JUN
Iran vs New Zealand
15 Jun 2026 · 18:00 local
Iran
VS
New Zealand
SoFi Stadium · Inglewood CA · ~70,000 seats
TAREMI vs WOOD
★ Fully enclosed translucent roof. The largest Group G venue. Iran's likeliest three points.
Match two.
The fifteenth of June.
Iran versus New Zealand.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Seventy thousand seats.
Fully enclosed translucent roof.
The largest Group G venue.
Eighteen hundred local kickoff.
Taremi against Wood.
Iran's likeliest three points.
MATCHDAY 2 · 21 JUN
Belgium vs Iran
21 Jun 2026 · 12:00 local
Belgium
VS
Iran
SoFi Stadium · Inglewood CA · ~70,000 seats
GARCIA PRESS vs IRAN BLOCK
★ SoFi Stadium again — its second Group G booking. Garcia's press against Ghalenoei's organised block. The match that probably decides Iran's ceiling.
Match three.
The twenty-first of June.
Belgium versus Iran.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, again.
Twelve noon local kickoff.
The match that probably decides Iran's ceiling.
Garcia's press against Ghalenoei's organised block.
MATCHDAY 2 · 21 JUN
New Zealand vs Egypt
21 Jun 2026 · 18:00 local
New Zealand
VS
Egypt
BC Place · Vancouver · ~54,500 seats
SALAH vs ALL WHITES
★ Retractable roof. The only Canadian venue in Group G. Salah against an All Whites back line.
Match four.
The twenty-first of June.
New Zealand versus Egypt.
B C Place in Vancouver.
Fifty-four thousand five hundred seats.
Retractable roof.
The only Canadian venue in Group G. Eighteen hundred local kickoff.
Salah against an All Whites back line.
MATCHDAY 3 · 26 JUN
Egypt vs Iran
26 Jun 2026 · 20:00 local
Egypt
VS
Iran
Lumen Field · Seattle WA · ~69,000 seats
SECOND-PLACE DECIDER
★ Lumen Field again — its second Group G booking. The critical match for second place. Salah's unfinished business against Taremi's quality.
Match five.
The twenty-sixth of June.
Egypt versus Iran.
Lumen Field in Seattle.
Twenty hundred local kickoff.
The critical match for second place.
Salah's unfinished business against Taremi's quality.
MATCHDAY 3 · 26 JUN
New Zealand vs Belgium
26 Jun 2026 · 20:00 local
New Zealand
VS
Belgium
BC Place · Vancouver · ~54,500 seats
SIMULTANEOUS FINISH
★ Simultaneous with Egypt vs Iran. The two finishing whistles will overlap. One of the tournament's must-watch slots.
Match six.
The twenty-sixth of June.
New Zealand versus Belgium.
B C Place in Vancouver.
Twenty hundred local kickoff.
Simultaneous with Egypt versus Iran.
The two finishing whistles will overlap.
One of the tournament's must-watch slots.
Predicted Standings · Bookmakers
The verdict from Vegas.
| Team | Win Group | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1Belgium | ~72-74% | FAVOURITES |
| 2Egypt | ~18% | SALAH'S TOUR |
| 3Iran | ~14-15% | TAREMI CLASS |
| 4New Zealand | <5% | ALL WHITES |
Sources: BetMGM + RotoWire · April 2026
THE HINGE · Egypt vs Iran · Lumen Field · 26 Jun
Mark The Dates
MATCHDAY 1
15
JUN
BEL vs EGY · Lumen Seattle
IRN vs NZL · SoFi Inglewood
IRN vs NZL · SoFi Inglewood
MATCHDAY 2
21
JUN
BEL vs IRN · SoFi Inglewood
NZL vs EGY · BC Place Vancouver
NZL vs EGY · BC Place Vancouver
FINAL MD
26
JUN
EGY vs IRN · Lumen Seattle
NZL vs BEL · BC Place Vancouver
NZL vs BEL · BC Place Vancouver
BEL
EGY
IRN
NZL
Follow AI Football for every group · every player · every story
Mark the dates.
The fifteenth of June.
Belgium versus Egypt in Seattle.
Iran versus New Zealand in Inglewood.
The twenty-first of June.
Belgium versus Iran in Inglewood.
New Zealand versus Egypt in Vancouver.
The twenty-sixth of June.
The final matchday.
Egypt versus Iran in Seattle.
New Zealand versus Belgium in Vancouver.
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