Belgium finished exactly as they deserved — top of Group G, in commanding style. A 5-1 demolition of New Zealand at BC Place in Vancouver on June 27 sent the Red Devils into the Round of 32 with momentum, class, and a performance that served notice to every team still left in the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Leandro Trossard was the architect and the executioner. Kevin De Bruyne, in what may have been his final group-stage match at a World Cup, added a goal of real quality. New Zealand, who had punched above their weight throughout the tournament, bow out.
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VAR Wipes Out a Penalty — Belgium Remain Patient (22′)
The first half was not without drama before Belgium broke through. In the fifth minute, Youri Tielemans fired a powerful shot high and wide, and De Bruyne had been probing relentlessly from deep. In the 22nd minute, the referee pointed to the spot after judging Finn Surman to have handled the ball. VAR reviewed and overturned it. Belgium absorbed the decision, kept its shape, and waited.
Trossard Opens the Account (28′)
The opener came six minutes later, and it had De Bruyne’s fingerprints all over it. His corner kick deflected off New Zealand goalkeeper Tim Payne, leaving the ball loose in the six-yard box. Trossard reacted the quickest, poking it into the net. One-nil Belgium going into the break, and it felt like only a matter of time before more followed.
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Trossard Makes It Two — Then De Bruyne Adds the Third (50′ & 66′)
New Zealand made two changes at the break, bringing on Ben Old and Jesse Randall in search of a foothold. They found none. Five minutes into the second half, Trossard completed his brace. A blocked shot fell to him in the box, he brought it down on his chest in one fluid movement and volleyed it past Max Crocombe. 2-0.
The third goal was the best of the night. In the 66th minute, Trossard played a clinical pass to De Bruyne on the edge of the penalty area. The captain did not need a second invitation — he struck a fierce, precise long-range drive that gave Crocombe no chance. Three-nil. De Bruyne raised both arms to acknowledge the crowd, knowing full well it might be a final statement in a group-stage performance.
A Consolation, Then the Floodgates (84′-90+4′)
De Bruyne and Trossard departed to a standing ovation in the 71st minute, replaced by Alexis Saelemaekers and Amadou Onana. New Zealand used the change in tempo to grab something. In the 84th minute, Elijah Just — who had been booked earlier in the second half — scored a well-taken consolation goal to make it 3-1. It was, briefly, a respectable scoreline for the All Whites.
Romelu Lukaku ended that notion within two minutes. Immediately after coming on as a substitute, he latched onto an opportunistic chance and finished coolly. 4-1. Then, deep into stoppage time, Saelemaekers wrapped things up — set up by Lukaku, he drove a low shot into the bottom corner. 5-1. Full-time.
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Group G Winners — On to South Korea
Belgium tops Group G and advances to the Round of 32, where they will face South Korea. They go into the knockouts with confidence, depth, and every key player fit and contributing. For New Zealand, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience ends in the group stage, but they gave a good account of themselves across the tournament — Elijah Just’s three goals over three matches were a particular highlight. Belgium, though, are the real deal.
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