{"id":4096,"date":"2026-06-23T10:48:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T14:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/?post_type=news&p=4096"},"modified":"2026-06-23T11:54:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T15:54:56","slug":"match-preview-new-zealand-vs-belgium-world-cup-2026","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/news\/world-cup\/match-preview-new-zealand-vs-belgium-world-cup-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand vs Belgium: Predictions, Picks, Odds & Stats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New Zealand take on Belgium at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver on Friday, June 26 — 11 PM ET \/ 10 PM CT \/ 9 PM MT \/ 8 PM PT — in a Group G closer that both sides arrive at without a win to their name.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belgium sit third on two points from two draws and need to win to be confident of advancing as a runner-up. The All Whites are bottom with one point — a draw and a loss — and would need three plus favourable results elsewhere to keep a best-third-place route open. It is, realistically, Belgium’s game to win. bet365 has them at -500, the draw at +650 and New Zealand at +1000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the World Cup 2026<\/a> group finale for both. The match lands at BC Place in Vancouver, one of the tournament’s better venues — the enclosed roof tends to compress the space and amplify the atmosphere in ways that favour technical sides over direct ones. Belgium have the technical side. New Zealand’s plan is something else entirely. For the Group G companion fixture, see the Egypt vs Iran preview<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Zealand vs Belgium: Best Bets & Picks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Our Pick<\/th>Odds & Sportsbook<\/th>Confidence<\/th>Why We Like It<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Match Result: Belgium to win<\/td>-500 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a><\/td>⭐⭐⭐⭐<\/td>Belgium have to win to advance and carry a significant edge in attacking quality; New Zealand have conceded five across two group games.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Correct Score: 0-3 Belgium<\/td>+600 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a><\/td>⭐⭐<\/td>The market’s shortest non-2-0 scoreline; reflects a Belgian attack that tends to pile on once it finds a rhythm.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Anytime Goalscorer: Romelu Lukaku<\/td>-120 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a><\/td>⭐⭐⭐<\/td>Belgium’s all-time leading scorer and the central outlet for every attacking move. The shortest anytime price in the market for good reason.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Total Goals: Over 2.5 Goals<\/td>-175 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a><\/td>⭐⭐⭐<\/td>Belgium need goals to go through and New Zealand’s defensive record invites them; the market is pricing a multi-goal Belgian win.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Both Teams To Score: No<\/td>-175 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a><\/td>⭐⭐⭐<\/td>New Zealand’s route to goal is almost entirely through set pieces; facing Courtois and a first-choice Belgian back line, a clean sheet for Belgium is the cleaner read.<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Odds via bet365<\/a> at time of writing — odds subject to change. 19+ (18+ in AB\/MB\/QC). Please play responsibly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

World Cup Form & Standings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Group G heading into matchday three: Egypt lead on four points, Iran sit second on two, Belgium third on two with a goal difference of zero, and New Zealand bottom on one with a goal difference of minus four. Belgium and New Zealand both need this result — for different reasons and with very different odds of getting what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Team<\/th>Pos<\/th>GP<\/th>W<\/th>D<\/th>L<\/th>GF<\/th>GA<\/th>GD<\/th>Pts<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Egypt<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>2<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>0<\/td>4<\/td>2<\/td>+2<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr>
Iran<\/strong><\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
Belgium<\/strong><\/td>3<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>0<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
New Zealand<\/strong><\/td>4<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>3<\/td>5<\/td>-2<\/td>1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Players to Watch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n