Group G feels like one of the most underrated groups in the entire tournament.
Belgium enters as the favorite to win the group, but unlike previous generations, this Belgian squad is built around a new core of talent led by Jeremy Doku rather than the stars that defined the nation’s golden era like Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois. Egypt and Iran look set for a fierce battle for second place, while New Zealand hopes to prove it belongs on the world stage after returning to the tournament.
Belgium may no longer have the star power of the teams that reached the semifinals in 2018, but they remain one of Europe’s most talented squads.
The Red Devils have quietly transitioned into a younger generation featuring players competing at the highest levels across Europe. Belgium still possesses quality throughout the squad and enters this World Cup with expectations of advancing comfortably from the group. Their biggest challenge may be proving they can finally turn talent into a deep World Cup run.
Egypt enters as one of Africa’s most dangerous teams.
The Pharaohs have consistently been among the continent’s strongest sides and possess the experience needed to handle World Cup pressure. Egypt plays with confidence, physicality, and enough attacking quality to punish opponents that make mistakes. They look well-positioned to challenge for a knockout-stage spot.
Iran remains one of Asia’s most reliable tournament teams.
They consistently qualify for major competitions because of their defensive organization and discipline. Iran rarely beats itself and has a history of making life difficult for more talented opponents. In a group where second place may come down to a single result, that experience could prove invaluable.
New Zealand faces an uphill battle but should not be overlooked entirely.
The All Whites earned their place in the tournament and will likely approach every match with nothing to lose. Their physical style and determination could make them difficult opponents, even if the overall talent gap is significant.
The match that could decide the group is Egypt versus Iran.
Both nations appear evenly matched on paper, and their showdown feels likely to determine who joins Belgium in the knockout rounds. Goal difference could also become important, making every goal against New Zealand extremely valuable.
Belgium versus Egypt is another intriguing matchup because it could reveal whether Belgium is truly capable of becoming a dark horse contender once the knockout rounds begin.
Predicted Group G Table
- Belgium — 9 pts
- Egypt — 4 pts
- Iran — 4 pts
- New Zealand — 0 pts
Match Predictions
Belgium 2-1 Egypt
Belgium 2-0 Iran
Belgium 3-0 New Zealand
Egypt 2-2 Iran
Egypt 2-1 New Zealand
Iran 2-1 New Zealand
Unlike some of the more glamorous groups in this tournament, Group G may be defined by organization, physicality, and fine margins. Belgium has the quality to finish first, but the battle between Egypt and Iran should be one of the tightest races of the group stage.
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