By OkayGoal 
Egypt moved to the top of Group G after recording their first-ever World Cup victory with a 3-1 comeback win over New Zealand. The Pharaohs recovered from an early setback to claim a crucial three points, putting themselves in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stage.
Goals from Mostafa Ziko, Mohamed Salah, and Trezeguet canceled out Finn Surman’s opener to give Egyp that precious victory over New Zealand.
That victory leaves Egypt on four points ahead of their final group match against Iran. A positive result in that fixture would guarantee their place in the next round.
Meanwhile, New Zealand are still very much alive in the qualification race despite sitting on just one point. The All Whites must defeat Belgium in their final group game if they want to keep their hopes of progressing alive.
Belgium Still Without a Win After Draw Against Iran
Belgium, on the other hand, remain without a win after being held to a goalless draw by Iran. The Red Devils dominated possession but were frustrated by Iran’s disciplined defending and the excellent performance of goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
The draw leaves both Belgium and Iran on two points heading into Matchday 3. As a result, both sides know that victory in their final fixtures would almost certainly secure a place in the knockout rounds.
Group G Results Recap
Matchday 1
- Egypt 2-2 Belgium
- Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Matchday 2
- Egypt 3-1 New Zealand
- Belgium 0-0 Iran
🌍 World Cup 2026 – Group G Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 4 |
| 2 | 🇮🇷 Iran | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
Qualification Scenario
- 🇪🇬 Egypt: A win against Iran guarantees qualification and could secure top spot. A draw would also likely be enough to advance.
- 🇮🇷 Iran: A victory over Egypt secures qualification. A draw could still be enough depending on the Belgium vs New Zealand result.
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: Must beat New Zealand to avoid relying on other results. Another draw would leave qualification in serious doubt.
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand: Need to defeat Belgium to have a realistic chance of reaching the knockout stage, either automatically or through a best third-place spot.