A double from Leandro Trossard helped guide Belgium to the knockout stages after underperforming in their opening two fixtures. With the other tie ending in a draw, Alexis Saelemaekers sealed a first-placed finish on goal difference after a late Elijah Just goal almost scuppered their chances.

Belgium started the game with real intent, expectedly dominating the proceedings. Youri Tielemans had the first shot of the game, blazing a long-distance effort well over the bar.

Despite Belgium’s dominance, the story of their group phase persisted early in the game: dominance on the ball, but unable to break down a solid defence like New Zealand's.

The All Whites were happy to absorb any early pressure before attempting to find Chris Wood as the out ball and try to spring a surprise counter-attack.

In the 11th minute, Leandro Trossard was agonisingly close to giving Belgium the lead. The Arsenal forward was slipped in, and a low shot from a tight angle beat the goalkeeper, but hit the inside of the post. The ball rolled along the goal line before New Zealand scrambled to clear it.

In the 20th minute, Belgium thought they had been awarded a penalty when Trossard's effort struck Finn Surman’s arm, but with his arm in a natural position, the decision was overturned after the referee was sent to the monitor.

Almost immediately after the hydration break, New Zealand’s defence was finally breached from a Belgian corner. A well swung in cross from De Bruyne was very poorly defended by the All Whites, with Trossard being the quickest to react to finish from close range.

Belgium weren’t content with just the one goal, however, as they pushed to double their lead before the half-time break.

De Bruyne blazed an effort from inside the box well over the bar, before Crocombe in the New Zealand net made a smart save to deny Charles de Ketelaere just before the end of the first half.

The Red Devils started the second half as they had ended the first, and they finally got their deserved second goal of the game in the 50th minute. Leandro Trossard once again found a pocket of space after being played in excellently by De Bruyne. The 31-year-old’s initial effort was blocked, but he did brilliantly to chest and volley the rebound to give New Zealand a mountain to climb.

New Zealand had their first shot of the match in the 55th minute, when a good effort from Elijah Just from the edge of the penalty area was pushed away well by Thibaut Courtois, who, with his appearance against New Zealand, became Belgium’s leading all-time World Cup appearance maker with 18.

Doku was replaced just before the hour mark, with Matias Fernandez-Pardo replacing the winger, and the 21-year-old almost had an immediate impact, blazing an effort over the bar after being played through on goal.

It was wave after wave of attack for the Red Devils from then on, with Crocombe making some decent saves, before De Bruyne put the game to bed in the 66th minute.

After under-performing in the opening two fixtures, De Bruyne was excellent against New Zealand, and, after frustratingly missing several chances, he produced a classic De Bruyne goal, shifting the ball onto his left foot before striking a low effort into the bottom corner to become Belgium’s oldest scorer at a World Cup.

New Zealand didn’t go down without a fight, however, going close with an effort through Just, with his shot from a tight angle deflecting wide.

In the 84th minute, New Zealand caused another shock, with Elijah Just notching his third goal at this World Cup to move Belgium back down to second, having gone top on goal difference thanks to De Bruyne's goal.

Just two minutes later, however, Romelu Lukaku was on hand yet again to score immediately after coming off the bench. Having had his goal against Egypt go down as an own goal, there was no doubt with this effort, heading home to restore Belgium's three-goal lead and send them back to the top of the group.

Substitute Alexis Saelemaekers added a fifth late in the game to cement Belgium's first-placed finish in Group G.

Belgium survived a late scare to end the group phase as Group G winners, an unlikely feat after their disappointing opening two games.

Belgium were completely dominant throughout the game, taking 35 shots, 10 on target, and maintaining 55% possession.

The Red Devils have rightfully faced criticism after their opening two games, but looked like a completely different side against New Zealand, looking much more dangerous going forward.

While Romelu Lukaku hasn't been fit enough to start all of Belgium's games, De Bruyne also looked slightly off the pace in Belgium's first two games, but looked back to his best in their final group game, capping off a fantastic display with a deserved goal.

Rudi Garcia's men finally announced themselves at the 2026 World Cup and may have found their form at a vital point in the tournament. They will now face a third-placed side from Group A, E, H, I, or J on the first of July.

In what was just their third World Cup appearance, New Zealand can take some great positives from their 2026 World Cup campaign.

The All Whites ended the group with just one point, but that does not accurately reflect how well New Zealand played, as they were a real test for all the nations they faced in Group G.

They are very much a big fish in a small pond when it comes to the Oceania region, so they had no problems in qualifying for this tournament. The main question coming into the World Cup was whether Darren Bazeley’s side would be able to replicate the possession-based football that they used in qualifying against tougher opposition.

While it would have been understandable for them to sit back against their opposition, they instead started their opening two games on the front foot, scoring early against both Iran and Egypt, and had close to 50% possession in both games.

From a country dominated by rugby and cricket, which were just happy to take part in the 2010 World Cup, this group of All Whites have vital experience they can carry into qualification for the next World Cup, and with the expanded tournament bracket and their dominance in Oceania, don’t be surprised if the All Whites become a much more regular fixture at the World Cup.