The Red Devils dominated from start to finish, extending their unbeaten run in World Cup group stages and setting up a clash with an as-yet-unknown opponent in Wednesday’s Round of 16.

Belgium’s dominant display against New Zealand

After struggling to find their rhythm in previous tournaments, Belgium finally broke their World Cup duck with a convincing win against Canada in 2022. This time, their performance against New Zealand left no room for doubt. The European side overwhelmed their Pacific rivals with relentless pressure, registering 16 shots—four of which forced the goalkeeper into action—before Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute. The Arsenal midfielder capitalized on a defensive error by New Zealand’s Tim Payne, whose attempted clearance rebounded into the path of the Belgian attacker.

Trossard nearly doubled the lead before halftime, hitting the post with a curling effort that was only cleared off the line by Tyler Bindon. The game’s turning point came shortly after, when a VAR review overturned what would have been a penalty for Belgium after Finn Surnam’s arm was deemed in a “natural” position. The decision sparked controversy, but the Belgians soon silenced their critics.

Second half surge secures comfortable victory

Belgium’s midfield maestros Kevin De Bruyne and Hans Vanaken orchestrated play with ease, though their attacking trio of Doku, De Ketelaere, and Lukaku initially lacked the cutting edge needed to punish New Zealand’s defensive lapses. It was Trossard who broke the deadlock again in the 50th minute, converting a rebound after De Bruyne’s initial shot was blocked. Coach Rudi Garcia then introduced fresh legs in the form of Matias Fernandez-Pardo, whose pace injected new energy into the Belgian attack.

The breakthrough came when De Bruyne intercepted a loose pass in the New Zealand box, setting up Lukaku to curl a shot past Max Crocombe for his 30th international goal (67th minute). The Roma striker’s clinical finish, combined with a late Saelemaekers strike (90th+4), completed a 5-1 scoreline that sent a strong message ahead of the next phase.

Egypt survives late scare to advance

While Belgium’s victory was emphatic, Egypt’s journey to the knockout rounds was anything but smooth. Mahmoud Saber put the Pharaohs ahead early (5th minute), but Iran equalized through Rezaeian just nine minutes later. The match devolved into a scrappy affair, with both sides clashing physically and chances becoming scarce.

Egypt nearly conceded a late winner when Mehdi Taremi’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Mostafa Shobeir, but Iran’s hopes were dashed in the dying seconds. A controversial offside call against Sardar Azmoun followed by a Haji Safi header hitting the crossbar in added time ensured the Iranians would rue their missed opportunities. Their fate now hinges on the results of other group-stage matches to secure one of the top eight third-place finishes.

Jubilant celebrations erupted among the Egyptian players as the final whistle confirmed their historic qualification for the Round of 16. Their relief was palpable after weathering a storm of late Iranian pressure, a testament to their resilience in the face of adversity.

The stage is now set for Belgium and Egypt to face their respective opponents in the next round. The Red Devils, buoyed by their attacking prowess and defensive solidity, will be heavy favorites, while Egypt—despite their struggles—will look to carry their newfound momentum forward.