New Zealand vs Belgium — World Cup 2026

FILE No. M-052CLASS: GROUP MATCHSTATUS: GROUP STAGEWC 2026 · VANCOUVER

New Zealand

1–5

Belgium

Match events

S. SinghOn: J. Randall46'
R. ThomasOn: B. Old46'
M. Stamenic46'
E. Just56'
T. PayneOn: M. Boxall64'
J. BellOn: C. McCowatt64'
L. CacaceOn: F. De Vries79'
E. Just84'1–3

0–128'L. Trossard
0–250'L. Trossardassist H. Vanaken
56'J. DokuOn: M. Fernandez-Pardo
0–366'K. De Bruyne
72'L. TrossardOn: A. Saelemaekers
72'K. De BruyneOn: A. Onana
85'C. De KetelaereOn: R. Lukaku
85'Y. TielemansOn: N. Raskin
1–486'R. Lukakuassist N. Raskin
1–590+4'A. Saelemaekersassist R. Lukaku

NZLMatch statsBelgium

45%Possession55%

6Shots35

2Shots on Target10

5Corners8

10Fouls7

2Yellow Cards0

—

New Zealand — starting XI

4-2-3-1

Bench

21Jesse Randall
19Benjamin Old
5Michael Boxall
20Callum McCowatt
3Francis De Vries
22Michael Woud
12Alex Paulsen
15Nando Pijnaker
26Tommy Smith
24Callan Elliot
14Alex Rufer
25Lachlan Bayliss
7Logan Rogerson
17Kosta Barbarouses
18Ben Waine

Belgium — starting XI

4-2-3-1

Bench

26Matías Fernández-Pardo
24Amadou Onana
22Alexis Saelemaekers
23Nicolas Raskin
9Romelu Lukaku
12Senne Lammens
13Mike Penders
18Joaquin Seys
16Koni De Winter
15Thomas Meunier
19Diego Moreira
14Dodi Lukebakio
6Axel Witsel

All-time meetings

New Zealand wins

Draws

Belgium wins

02 · Tale of the Tape

Tale of the tape.

28.2

Average Age

26.5

03 · The Form Guide

Last five walks into the room.

Who's hotter going in? Latest competitive results, newest first.

New Zealand

Jun 27

vs Belgium

World Cup · Group Stage - 3 · BC Place

1–5

Jun 22

vs Egypt

World Cup · Group Stage - 2 · BC Place

1–3

Jun 16

at Iran

World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · SoFi Stadium

2–2

Jun 6

at England

Friendlies · Friendly International · Raymond James Stadium

0–1

Jun 3

at Haiti

Friendlies · Friendly International · Chase Stadium

0–4

Belgium

Jun 7

vs Italy U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Final · A. Le Coq Arena

1–1

Jun 4

vs France U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Semi-finals · Kadrioru Staadion

2–1

May 31

vs Estonia U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Group Stage - 3 · A. Le Coq Arena

1–0

May 28

vs Spain U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Group Stage - 2 · Rakvere Linnastaadion

0–1

May 25

at Croatia U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Group Stage - 1 · Rakvere Linnastaadion

2–0

05 · Key Battles

Three duels that decide it.

Left back vs Right winger · Cacace's test

L. Cacace

#13 · Empoli

J. Doku

#11 · Manchester City

Doku's explosive pace and directness will probe Cacace relentlessly down the flank. The Empoli defender has pedigree and positioning, but containing City's winger is a different beast. This is a baptism by fire for the All Whites' backline.

Central midfield · The clash of craft

M. Stamenić

#8 · Olympiakos Piraeus

K. De Bruyne

#7 · Manchester City

De Bruyne's range and intelligence will dominate possession in the middle. Stamenić must snuff out space and disrupt rhythm, but De Bruyne rarely meets his match in creative synthesis. The Belgian will dictate the tempo.

Striker vs Centre back · Old's moment

B. Old

#19 · Saint Etienne

A. Theate

#3 · Eintracht Frankfurt

Old will need physicality and intelligent movement to unsettle Theate, who is composed and positionally sharp. A battle of will over pure athleticism; if New Zealand can release Old early, there is mischief to make.

06 · Style Clash

New Zealand vs Belgium · A collision of ambition and experience

The All Whites arrive without the pedigree of Belgium's constellation, but with a hunger to disrupt. Belgium's midfield maestros will seek to suffocate the game; New Zealand must steal it on the break.

Compact counters

New Zealand

Elite possession

Belgium

Direct

Build-up

Circulating

Triggers

Pressing

Patient

Explosive

Transitions