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Leandro Trossard scored twice as Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 on June 26 to top Group G at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and advance to the round of 32. The result, played at BC Place in Vancouver, saw Belgium finish ahead of Egypt on goal difference after both accumulated five points, while New Zealand was eliminated with a single point from the group. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and substitute Alexis Saelemaekers completed the scoring for a Belgian side that had started the match cautiously before asserting control.
According to Reuters, Trossard broke the deadlock in the 28th minute by heading home a cross delivered by De Bruyne. The forward netted his second goal shortly after the interval with a volley set up by another incisive pass from the Belgian captain. De Bruyne then drove in the third goal from close range, becoming the oldest Belgian player to score at a World Cup at the age of 34, the report added.
New Zealand responded with a goal from Elijah Just in the 84th minute when he converted a rebound, Reuters reported. Belgium restored their four-goal lead moments later as Lukaku powered a header into the net. Saelemaekers, who came off the bench, added the fifth in stoppage time with a powerful strike to round off the victory.
The win enabled Belgium to claim first place in Group G with five points, matching Egypt’s tally but surpassing them on goal difference after Egypt drew 1-1 with Iran, according to ESPN data. Iran collected three points while New Zealand finished bottom with one point and exited the competition. As group winners, Belgium will now prepare for a last-32 encounter against a third-placed team from a different group.
This performance builds on Belgium’s strong showing in recent international tournaments, where they secured third place at the 2018 World Cup, FIFA historical records show. For New Zealand, the match represented another difficult outing at the global stage, as the team is yet to record a victory in World Cup finals history, a fact highlighted in BBC coverage. The Oceania representatives had managed a draw in one of their earlier group games to earn their lone point.
Belgium dominated possession and chances for large parts of the contest despite an even opening period, The Athletic match summary found. Trossard was denied by the post with one effort before his first goal, while New Zealand struggled to create clear opportunities until their late consolation. The effective use of substitutes helped Belgium maintain their momentum through to the final whistle.
The 2026 World Cup is the first expanded edition with 48 participating nations and is jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, tournament organizers have stated. This group stage match in Canada underscored the international flavor of the event, drawing teams from Europe and Oceania. Belgium’s advancement continues their reputation as a consistent performer on the world stage over the past 15 years.
