With survival on the line in Vancouver, Jeremy Doku’s return sparks hope for a goalless Belgium side facing a resilient New Zealand hungry for a historic breakthrough.
BC Place in Vancouver will play host to a must-win game for both sides when New Zealand take on Belgium on Saturday at 8 PM local time (Sunday 4 AM BST).
Match day two was another poor showing for Belgium, who slumped to a disappointing 0-0 draw against a spirited Iranian side, leaving Rudi Garcia's side with two points and in third place.
Belgium retained 70% possession despite going down to ten men in the 66th minute, and had 23 shots on goal, none of which resulted in a goal.
The Red Devils have now had 69 shots without a goal and are winless in their last four World Cup matches, following a disastrous showing in Qatar in 2022.
New Zealand, on the other hand, go into their final game on just one point, after a 3-1 defeat to Egypt, who now lead the group. Despite taking the lead, Mohamed Salah led his side to overturn the deficit and record their first-ever win at a World Cup.
The All Whites have been one of the surprise packages at this summer's tournament, and Darren Bazeley's men will be looking to cause yet another shock when they go toe-to-toe with
The two sides will face each other, knowing they both need wins to guarantee qualification for the last 32.
Team news
Rudi Garcia will be looking for his side to finally kick into gear and will be aided by Jeremy Doku's return to the side after missing the game against Iran due to illness, before briefly returning to England to witness the birth of his child.
Alexis Saelemaekers showed glimpses while deputising for Doku, so it remains to be seen whether the Manchester City winger will receive an immediate recall, as his breathing issues may still be persisting.
Despite not being at his best against Egypt, having a difference-maker like the 24-year-old available will certainly be an advantage for the Red Devils, who are yet to score a goal at this tournament, with their sole goal at this World Cup coming from an Egyptian own goal.
After picking up a red card, Nathan Ngoy will be suspended for the final game of Group G, with Arthur Theate the most likely to deputise at the heart of the defence.
For New Zealand, Darren Bazeley may name an unchanged starting lineup for the third time in a row, with there being no injury concerns.
Prediction
Belgium simply cannot afford another draw against New Zealand. Despite being unbeaten in 15 games, the two draws from their opening two games has left them needing a win to guarantee a top-two spot.
If Egypt beat Iran on the final day, then second will be the highest they can finish, but they could end up with an easier draw in the round of 32, with second facing Australia or Paraguay, while first would face one of the eight best third-placed sides.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will realistically qualify for the last 32 with a win, regardless of the result in the other game. They would end on four points, and even if they finish third, they will go through as one of the top eight third-placed nations.
Frustratingly for the All Whites, they have gone ahead in both of their opening fixtures, but failed to hang on to a lead, with Darren Bazeley's men failing to keep a clean sheet since June 2025, and winning just one of their last 13 matches.
New Zealand have taken early leads in both their games, opening the scoring in the 7th minute against Iran and the 15th minute against Egypt, showing they are not afraid to try to establish a foothold despite being underdogs.
Despite all that, with their backs against the wall and the far superior side on paper, expect Belgium to finally get their first win at the World Cup, and automatically qualify for the Round of 32.
Prediction: New Zealand 1-3 Belgium
