No previous meetings between these teams.
-
1
Elijah Just2 - 2Finn Surman1
- 1
Kevin De Bruyne9 - 2Maxim De Cuyper5
- 3Chris Wood5
- 4Sarpreet Singh4
- 5Callum McCowatt4
- 6Leandro Trossard4
- 7Elijah Just4
- 8Youri Tielemans4
- 9Marko Stamenic3
- 10Romelu Lukaku3
- 1Timothy Castagne4
- 2Youri Tielemans3
- 3Joe Bell2
- 4Tim Payne2
- 5Finn Surman2
- 6Nathan Ngoy2
- 7Elijah Just2
- 8Thomas Meunier2
- 9Brandon Mechele2
- 10Ryan Thomas1
- 1Chris Wood2
- 2Tim Payne1
- 1Leandro Trossard9
- 2Youri Tielemans6
- 3Kevin De Bruyne5
- 4Chris Wood5
- 5Timothy Castagne4
- 6Marko Stamenic3
- 7Liberato Cacace2
- 8Sarpreet Singh1
- 9Joe Bell1
- 10Tim Payne1
- 1Nathan Ngoy142
- 2Brandon Mechele134
- 3Marko Stamenic97
- 4Finn Surman95
- 5Michael Boxall93
- 6Joe Bell90
- 7Youri Tielemans83
- 8Leandro Trossard80
- 9Nicolas Raskin74
- 10Kevin De Bruyne71
- 1Leandro Trossard6
- 2Jérémy Doku3
- 3Kevin De Bruyne3
- 4Matias Fernandez-Pardo2
- 5Sarpreet Singh2
- 6Callum McCowatt2
- 7Joe Bell2
- 8Charles De Ketelaere2
- 9Alexis Saelemaekers2
- 10Liberato Cacace2
- 1Marko Stamenic4
- 2Joe Bell3
- 3Charles De Ketelaere3
- 4Finn Surman3
- 5Nathan Ngoy3
- 6Michael Boxall2
- 7Callum McCowatt2
- 8Liberato Cacace2
- 9Brandon Mechele2
- 10Sarpreet Singh1
New Zealand face a daunting fixture when they take on a Belgium side that have to win in Group G at the 2026 World Cup on Saturday.
Darren Bazeley’s side showed spirit in their opening games, drawing with Iran before losing 3-1 to Egypt. Belgium drew both their opening matches against Egypt and Iran. Kick-off is scheduled for 4am (UK time) on Saturday 27th June.
New Zealand vs Belgium predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romelu Lukaku to score anytime | 8/11 @ Sky Bet (57.9%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time top scorer and carries immense physical presence. He struggled for sharpness early in the tournament but remains a massive threat. New Zealand’s defence looked vulnerable against Egypt and conceded three times. Against a side that must attack to survive, Lukaku will find space to exploit on the break. He is too powerful to ignore against this opposition. |
| Correct score – New Zealand 0-3 Belgium | 6/1 @ Betfred (14.3%) | ⭐⭐ | Belgium need a convincing victory to secure their knockout spot and boost their goal difference. New Zealand conceded three goals against Egypt and look defensively fragile. Rudi Garcia will demand a ruthless attacking display after two frustrating draws. Belgium’s attacking depth — De Bruyne, Lukaku, Trossard and Doku — makes a multi-goal win the most logical outcome. New Zealand’s inability to keep clean sheets makes a heavy defeat likely. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into New Zealand vs Belgium
New Zealand
New Zealand arrive in Vancouver carrying the weight of a difficult defeat. A 3-1 loss to Egypt left Darren Bazeley’s side needing a miracle to progress. Chris Wood provided two assists against Iran but struggled to impact the Egypt game.
The All Whites enter this fixture knowing only a victory keeps their knockout dreams alive. The talent at Bazeley’s disposal is limited compared to European heavyweights. Elijah Just scored twice against Iran and provides genuine attacking threat. A core group of domestic and European-based players face their biggest test.
New Zealand emerged from the Egypt game without major new injuries. The pressure is entirely on their opponents. New Zealand need to demonstrate they can compete with elite opposition. Vancouver offers them the perfect stage to cause a historic upset.
Belgium
Belgium arrive in Vancouver on the back of two frustrating draws. A 0-0 stalemate with Iran leaves them needing a victory to guarantee their knockout spot. The Red Devils boast world-class talent, but Rudi Garcia demands more attacking cohesion. Kevin De Bruyne assisted Romelu Lukaku against Egypt, offering a glimpse of their potential. But Garcia’s side failed to break down a resolute Iranian defence. The step up in pressure is enormous as elimination looms. Their tournament form underlines their struggles. Two successive draws saw them score just one goal. Yet Garcia has an incredibly talented squad at his disposal. If Belgium click into gear, they carry immense attacking threat. A point here leaves them vulnerable to elimination. A win secures their progression.
New Zealand team news
Darren Bazeley faces a huge task lifting his squad after the Egypt defeat. His side looked defensively exposed against quick attackers.
Bazeley faces selection questions across the squad. Marko Stamenic and Joe Bell push for starting berths in midfield. Chris Wood starts despite his recent knee issues.. Elijah Just, who scored twice against Iran, will look to keep his place out wide.
Belgium team news
Rudi Garcia faces a major dilemma in defence after a disastrous display against Iran. Nathan Ngoy received a straight red card and misses this crucial fixture. Arthur Theate or Timothy Castagne will likely replace him in the backline. Romelu Lukaku pushes for a start despite fitness concerns entering the tournament. Kevin De Bruyne captains the side and drives the midfield. Jeremy Doku provides crucial pace on the wing and will look to exploit space behind New Zealand’s fullbacks.
Head-to-Head
These two nations have never met in competitive international football. Saturday’s fixture in Vancouver represents their first official encounter. With New Zealand seeking their first-ever World Cup win, this match carries massive significance. This is a crucial test for both teams.
Can New Zealand overcome the might of Belgium?
Both nations enter Saturday’s fixture under immense pressure. A Belgium win secures their knockout spot and relieves the growing tension. A New Zealand victory would send shockwaves through Group G and rank among the biggest World Cup upsets.
We’re backing Romelu Lukaku to make his mark in Vancouver. You can get 8/11 with Sky Bet for Lukaku to score anytime. This represents strong value against a vulnerable New Zealand defence.
A 3-0 Belgium win at 6/1 with Betfred offers value. This reflects the expected margin of victory and New Zealand’s defensive struggles.
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