
Belgium demolish New Zealand 5-1 to top Group 7 and reach World Cup last 32
Belgium secured top spot in Group 7 with a crushing 5-1 win over New Zealand, booking their place in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Dominant display
Belgium needed a victory to guarantee progression after two earlier draws against Egypt and Iran, and they delivered in emphatic fashion. Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute, finishing from close range after a Kevin De Bruyne corner caused chaos in the New Zealand box. Trossard doubled the lead early in the second half, controlling a blocked shot and firing home his second in the 50th minute.
Midfield maestro
De Bruyne was at the heart of Belgium's attacking fluency, providing the assist for the first goal and then drilling a spectacular long-range strike in the 66th minute to make it 3-0. The Belgian captain combined with Trossard for the third, capping a performance that underlined his influence on the team's qualification campaign.
Late flurry seals the group
New Zealand pulled a goal back in the 84th minute through Just, briefly threatening Belgium's goal difference advantage. Substitute Romelu Lukaku responded two minutes later to restore the three-goal cushion, and Alexis Saelemaekers added a fifth in second-half stoppage time. The 5-1 margin, combined with Egypt's 1-1 draw against Iran, meant Belgium jumped from third to first in the group on goal difference.
Path to the knockout rounds
Belgium progress as Group 7 winners and will face a third-placed finisher from another group in the Round of 32. New Zealand exit the tournament with a single point from their three matches.
- Trossard puts Belgium 1-0 up
- Trossard scores his second, 2-0 Belgium
- De Bruyne blasts in the third, 3-0
- Just pulls one back for New Zealand, 3-1
- Lukaku restores three-goal lead, 4-1
- Saelemaekers makes it 5-1 in stoppage time


