Belgium secured their spot in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 with a stunning 5-1 win over New Zealand on Friday, while Iran faced a tense wait after a challenging 1-1 draw with Egypt in the final matches of Group G.
Leandro Trossard scored twice, and Kevin De Bruyne showcased his skills as Belgium topped Group G, edging Egypt on goal difference. Both Belgium and Egypt advanced, leaving Iran anxious about their chance to move on as one of the best third-placed teams.
### BELGIUM DOMINATES GROUP G
In Vancouver, Belgium put on an impressive display, demonstrating their status as one of the tournament’s strongest teams. Under the guidance of coach Peter Bosz, they controlled the ball from the start and kept New Zealand pinned in their half, limiting their chances to break free.
Belgium nearly took the lead early on with a penalty, but after a VAR check, the decision was reversed. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Kevin De Bruyne’s corner caused confusion in the New Zealand defense. Trossard seized the moment and scored, giving Belgium a deserved lead.
Just five minutes into the second half, De Bruyne delivered a perfect pass to Trossard, who, after a brief struggle, smashed in a rebound to double the score. New Zealand had little response after that. Belgium maintained control, creating chances until De Bruyne found the back of the net himself in the 66th minute with a precise shot from the edge of the box.
A late goal from Elijah Just gave New Zealand a moment to cheer, but Belgium quickly responded with Romelu Lukaku scoring before Alexis Saelemaekers capped off the decisive win.
While Belgium celebrated, attention shifted to Seattle, where the fight for the second automatic spot played out in dramatic fashion.
### IRAN’S HEARTBREAK
Iran faced a tough match against Egypt, coming close to automatic qualification but settling for a thrilling 1-1 draw. Although the point secured Egypt’s place in the knockout stages as the second team in Group G, Iran now waits anxiously to see if they will advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
The match at Lumen Field was filled with excitement. Egypt struck first in the fifth minute when Mahmoud Saber scored. Iran fought back and earned a penalty, but Mehdi Taremi missed the chance to level the score. Nonetheless, just two minutes later, Ramin Rezaeian scored, bringing the teams to a tie.
The second half saw Iran pushing hard for a winner, but they faced frustration. Taremi was denied by the crossbar late in the game, and in the dying moments, a celebration for a potential winning goal by Shoja Khalilzadeh was cut short when VAR ruled him offside.
### SALAH INJURY CONCERNS
Amid Egypt’s qualification, there was concern for their star player, Mohamed Salah, who was substituted due to a hamstring issue and watched the remainder of the match with ice on his leg, leaving fans worried about his condition for the upcoming knockout rounds.
As for Iran, their inability to score in critical moments places them in a tight spot. They currently sit sixth among third-placed teams with three points and a goal difference of zero, waiting to see how the remaining groups unfold to learn their fate in the tournament.
In summary, Belgium proved dominant in their match, while Iran faced a rollercoaster of emotions as they hope for a chance to continue their World Cup journey.
