New Zealand 1-5 Belgium: Belgium roar to life and seize Group G control
If you skipped Saturday's late-morning kickoff in Vancouver, you missed Belgium flexing their attacking muscle. New Zealand were swept aside 1-5, with Leandro Trossard scoring twice and Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings. The Red Devils now top Group G on points, and the All Whites are all but done. A comfortable watch, but hardly an essential one.
Final score: New Zealand 1-5 Belgium — kick-off was Saturday 27 June 2026, 11:00 AM Singapore time at Vancouver.
The storylines
Belgium have announced themselves as Group G's heavyweight. After a tepid goalless draw with Iran and a share of the points against Egypt, they finally clicked in Vancouver, racking up five goals to climb level on points at the summit. Leandro Trossard's first-half opener settled any nerves, and once the second arrived the floodgates opened. For a side that had looked blunt, this was an emphatic statement that the talent has always been there.
New Zealand's tournament hopes are now hanging by a thread. The All Whites had earned a creditable draw with Iran and pushed Egypt before falling, but this heavy defeat leaves them rooted to the foot of the group on a single point. Elijah Just's late strike offered a flicker of pride, yet the gulf in quality was stark. Hosting ambitions of a famous run now feel a long way off for Darren Bazeley's spirited but outgunned squad.
This was the Kevin De Bruyne show as much as anyone's. The midfield maestro capped a dominant Belgian display by getting on the scoresheet himself on 66 minutes, and his vision unlocked New Zealand repeatedly. With Trossard, Alexis Saelemaekers and Romelu Lukaku all finding the net, Belgium spread the goals across their forward line. The variety of their scorers will worry Egypt and every other side eyeing the knockout rounds in North America.
The tactical battle
Belgium's superiority was built on relentless ball circulation and clever rotations through midfield. De Bruyne dropped deep to dictate tempo while Trossard drifted into pockets between New Zealand's lines, exploiting the spaces that opened once Marko Stamenic and Elijah Just picked up early bookings and grew cautious. The All Whites sat deep but lacked an outlet, and Belgium's overloads down both flanks created the platform for Saelemaekers and Lukaku to add late gloss.
Players to watch
- Leandro Trossard (Belgium) — Took both his goals coolly and tormented New Zealand's defence all afternoon with intelligent movement.
- Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) — Orchestrated everything from midfield and crowned the display with a goal of his own.
- Elijah Just (New Zealand) — Grabbed a consolation despite an earlier booking, a rare bright spark in a chastening day.
What's at stake
Belgium now sit level with Egypt at the top of Group G on five points, their superior goal difference giving them control of qualification. Iran linger on three, while New Zealand's single point and battered goal difference leave them needing a miracle. For the All Whites, this loss likely ends realistic hopes of progressing from the group.
Key moments
- 28' Trossard opens the scoring to settle Belgian nerves
- 50' Trossard doubles his tally early in the second half
- 66' De Bruyne joins the party with the third
- 72' Saelemaekers makes it four
- 84' Just grabs a consolation for New Zealand
- 86' Lukaku rounds off the rout
FAQ
What time is New Zealand vs Belgium in Singapore? Saturday 27 June 2026, 11:00 AM Singapore time (SGT).
Where is New Zealand vs Belgium being played? At Vancouver.
What is the head-to-head record between New Zealand and Belgium? Both sides entered with one point apiece from their meetings with Iran and Egypt, but Belgium's class told decisively when it mattered most in Vancouver.