The final round of games of the 2026 World Cup group stage take place between Wednesday and Sunday. We’ve taken a look at the Group G permutations.
We’ve broken down each group, with this article focusing on Group G. Belgium have badly underperformed, with Egypt and Iran holding the advantage in qualifying. New Zealand still stand a chance of qualifying but need a big result.
Below are all the permutations for those groups as well as who each team could face in the next round. It’s a little complicated but we’ve tried to make it as easy we can!
How could Group G finish?
| Result A | Result B | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt win | Belgium win | 1. Egypt (7 points) 2. Belgium (5 points) 3. Iran (2 points) 4. New Zealand (1 point) |
| Egypt win | Belgium/New Zealand draw | 1. Egypt (7 points) 2. Belgium (3 points) 3. Iran (2 points) 4. New Zealand (2 points) |
| Egypt win | New Zealand win | 1. Egypt (7 points) 2. New Zealand (4 points) 3. Belgium (2 points) 4. Iran (2 points) |
| Egypt/Iran draw | Belgium win | 1. Egypt (5 points) 2. Belgium (5 points) 3. Iran (3 points) 4. New Zealand (1 point) |
| Egypt/Iran draw | Belgium/New Zealand draw | 1. Egypt (5 points) 2. Iran (3 points) 3. Belgium (3 points) 4. New Zealand (2 points) |
| Egypt/Iran draw | New Zealand win | 1. Egypt (5 points) 2. New Zealand (4 points) 3. Iran (3 points) 4. Belgium (2 points) |
| Iran win | Belgium win | 1. Iran (5 points) 2. Belgium (5 points) 3. Egypt (4 points) 4. New Zealand (1 point) |
| Iran win | Belgium/New Zealand draw | 1. Iran (5 points) 2. Egypt (4 points) 3. Belgium (3 points) 4. New Zealand (2 points) |
| Iran win | New Zealand win | 1. Iran (5 points) 2. Egypt (4 points) 3. New Zealand (4 points) 4. Belgium (2 points) |
Egypt are almost guaranteed to qualify from Group G and come out on top if they pick up at least a point against Iran. The only way the Pharaohs can finish outside the top two is if they lose to Iran and Belgium beat New Zealand. It’s a nice position for a side that have never reached the knockout stages before to be in.
Iran know that if they beat Egypt they will secure top spot unless Belgium enjoy a larger win over New Zealand. Simply if Iran win by one goal and Belgium win by 2 (or more) then Belgium to finish top on goal difference. Their points tallies would be the same and their head to head match ended in a stalemate, leaving goal difference as the tie breaker.
Belgium’s position is not enviable. They can’t win Group G and they have to beat New Zealand to qualify. A point won’t be enough if Egypt and Iran also draw and a defeat would be a disaster.
New Zealand’s position isn’t even as good as that. A win might not even be enough to see them into the Round of 32. If Iran beat Egypt and New Zealand pick up all three points, then they would still only finish third and be at the mercy of the other third placed nations. Nothing other than a win and Egypt picking up at least a point will do.
Who could the teams from Group G face in the next round?
The winner of Group G will take on a nation that finishes third in Group A, E, H, I or J. The most likely outcome is a Round of 32 tie against Czech Republic.
Whoever finishes second will face the runner-up in Group D. That’s currently lining up to be Australia.
The current projections show that the side that finishes third in Group G will qualify for the knockout rounds. That sets up a tie with the nation that wins Group B, which is currently projected to be Canada.
Read more:
