New Zealand vs Belgium live: Group G survival clash at World Cup
The New Zealand vs Belgium World Cup 2026 finale at BC Place Vancouver starts at 11 p.m. ET, deciding Group G survival. Egypt lead with four points; Iran and Belgium have two; New Zealand have one. The 86th-ranked All Whites need a win for their first ever World Cup victory and knockout hope, while Belgium need a result to avoid rare back-to-back group-stage exits.
Key Takeaways
- New Zealand must beat world No. 9 Belgium to record their first World Cup win and keep knockout hopes alive in one of the tournament's tightest groups.
- Belgium enter on two draws (1-1 Egypt, 0-0 Iran) and sit outside the best third-place spots after Nathan Ngoy's red card stalled them against Iran.
- All four Group G teams kick off simultaneously, with Egypt vs Iran in Seattle running alongside this Vancouver decider.
- FanDuel lists Belgium at -550, New Zealand at +1300 and the draw at +600, with the total goals line at 3.5.
- U.S. viewers can watch on FOX or stream via FOX One and the FOX Sports app.
Who needs what to advance from Group G?
Group G enters its final matchday with just three points separating first from fourth. Egypt top the table on four points, while Iran and Belgium each have two and New Zealand sit bottom on one, according to The Guardian's live coverage.
New Zealand opened with a 2-2 draw against Iran and lost 3-1 to Egypt, with midfielder Elijah Just scoring twice across those two games, FOX Sports reports. Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt and 0-0 with Iran, finishing the Iran match with 10 men after Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the 65th minute.
A win would give New Zealand their first World Cup victory in three tournament appearances and could lift them past Belgium into the round of 32. Belgium could settle for another draw, but a loss would mark the first time in nearly a century of World Cup play that they failed to escape the group stage in consecutive tournaments.
How can you watch New Zealand vs Belgium live?
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time at BC Place in Vancouver — 11 p.m. ET on Friday, June 26, or 4 a.m. BST on Saturday, June 27, depending on your time zone, per The Guardian and FOX Sports.
In the United States, the match airs on FOX. Streams are available through FOX One and the FOX Sports app, with FOX One offering a three-day free trial for new users.
What do the betting odds say about New Zealand vs Belgium?
Belgium arrive as heavy favorites. FanDuel Sportsbook lists Belgium at -550 on the moneyline, New Zealand at +1300 and a draw at +600, with the over/under for total goals set at 3.5, according to SportsLine.
Proven soccer handicapper Martin Green, who entered this fixture on a 9-5 run on World Cup picks, is leaning toward the over on 3.5 total goals. That lines up with Belgium's need to push for a result after two flat performances, and New Zealand's need to attack from the opening whistle.
Why does this feel like a World Cup upset waiting to happen?
The Guardian notes that after Cape Verde's stunning path to the round of 32 earlier on matchday 13, the tournament has already proved that ranked tables do not tell the whole story. New Zealand are the lowest-ranked nation at the World Cup, yet their 2-2 opener against Iran kept them mathematically alive while Belgium stumbled.
For more offbeat sports drama from around the globe, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man section. Belgium fans packed BC Place ahead of kickoff, but the Red Devils have not looked like the side that finished third in Russia 2018. Something has to give in Vancouver — and the whole group is watching.