FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G Preview: Belgium The Team To Beat?

Published 9 June 2026 · sports

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G Preview: Belgium The Team To Beat? Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 14:07 IST FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G Preview: Belgium The Team To Beat? Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 14:07 IST FIFA World Cup 2026: Belgium lead the way in Group G, but Egypt and Iran have the quality to challenge the favourites and make the race for qualification a close one. Belgium face Egypt in their campaign opener. (AP Photo) Group G may not attract the same attention as some of the tournament’s heavyweight sections, but it has all the ingredients to become one of the most competitive groups at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Belgium enter as favourites and possess the deepest squad on paper, yet both Egypt and Iran have the quality and experience to challenge for a place in the knockout rounds. New Zealand arrive as underdogs, but with a proven goalscorer and a disciplined approach, they will be determined to upset expectations. While Belgium are expected to lead the way, the battle for qualification could be among the closest of any group in the tournament. BELGIUM For a decade, Belgium’s much-vaunted “golden generation" carried the expectation of delivering a major international trophy but ultimately fell short. Now, with many of those stars gone and a new-look squad emerging, the Red Devils could become one of the tournament’s dark horses. Belgium’s squad for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States still includes remnants of the side that topped FIFA’s year-end rankings four times between 2018 and 2021 and reached the World Cup semi-finals in Russia in 2018. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, record scorer Romelu Lukaku, talisman Kevin De Bruyne and veteran midfielder Axel Witsel are all preparing for a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance. However, Belgium’s prospects may depend more on a younger generation of players. Courtois and De Bruyne remain automatic selections, but Lukaku has struggled with injuries throughout the season and was included in the 26-man squad largely on the expectation that he can return to fitness. Witsel, meanwhile, has been recalled primarily to provide experienced cover. The spotlight instead falls on players such as Aston Villa duo Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans, who has succeeded De Bruyne as captain, along with Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku, whose dribbling ability and growing influence have increasingly made him a match-winner for Belgium. Together, they form the backbone of a team looking to forge its own identity. Belgium endured a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and followed it with an underwhelming Euro 2024 campaign, where they stumbled through the group phase before exiting in the last 16. Those results saw Belgium slip to ninth in the world rankings, and with figures such as Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen now retired, expectations surrounding the national team have significantly eased.