Omanghana
Belgium produced a dominant display to defeat New Zealand 5-1 at BC Place in Vancouver, sealing top spot in Group G and booking their place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After overcoming an early VAR setback, the Red Devils showcased their attacking quality with five goals from Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers to comfortably finish the group stage at the summit of the standings.
VAR Overturns Early Penalty
Belgium thought they had an early opportunity to take the lead when the referee awarded a penalty, but a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review overturned the decision, keeping the score level.
Despite the setback, Belgium maintained control of the match and eventually found the breakthrough in the 28th minute.
Kevin De Bruyne’s corner caused problems inside the New Zealand penalty area, with the ball deflecting off defender Tim Payne before falling kindly to Leandro Trossard, who reacted quickly to bundle it home from close range.
Trossard Doubles Belgium’s Advantage
The Arsenal forward continued his impressive performance shortly after the restart.
In the 50th minute, Trossard expertly brought the ball under control with his chest before finishing calmly to complete his brace and extend Belgium’s lead to 2-0.
The goal gave the Red Devils complete control of the contest as New Zealand struggled to cope with Belgium’s relentless attacking pressure.
De Bruyne Adds His Name to the Scoresheet
Belgium’s captain capped another outstanding performance in the 66th minute with a trademark strike from distance.
Kevin De Bruyne unleashed a powerful long-range effort that flew beyond New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe, making it 3-0 and effectively putting the result beyond doubt.
New Zealand Find Brief Consolation
The All Whites managed to pull a goal back in the 84th minute through Elijah Just, who finished confidently past Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to provide a rare bright moment for his side.
However, any hopes of a late comeback were quickly extinguished.
Lukaku and Saelemaekers Complete the Rout
Belgium restored their three-goal advantage just one minute later when substitute Romelu Lukaku found the back of the net after coming off the bench.
The Red Devils added further gloss to the scoreline deep into stoppage time as Alexis Saelemaekers rounded off a sweeping move with a composed finish, sealing an emphatic 5-1 victory.
Belgium March Into the Knockout Rounds
The convincing win ensured Belgium finished top of Group G, carrying significant momentum into the Round of 32 after an impressive group-stage campaign.
For New Zealand, the defeat brought their World Cup journey to an end, despite a spirited effort against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Source: Omanghana
