Saelemaekers seals Belgium's win over New Zealand, tops Group G

Alexis Saelemaekers scored in the 93rd minute to finish Belgium’s rout of New Zealand at BC Place in Vancouver and lock in first place in Group G at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The stoppage-time goal did more than add a final number to the scoreline: it reflected a Belgium side that kept its structure, kept its tempo and kept attacking well after the match had effectively been decided.

The result came on June 27, 2026, in a Group G fixture that also included Iran and Egypt. FIFA’s expanded World Cup features 48 teams and 104 matches, and Belgium used its last group-stage outing to underline why it was positioned to advance as a seeded team into the round of 32. The calendar had already listed New Zealand against Belgium for 03:00 at BC Place, and the match unfolded as a clear measure of Belgium’s depth and control.

Saelemaekers’ finish in the 93rd minute was the latest example of Belgium’s ruthlessness in game management. Rather than sitting back after taking command, Belgium continued to push forward and pressed its advantage until the final whistle. That approach mattered in a group where every goal could shape the standings, and it helped Belgium finish on top ahead of New Zealand, Iran and Egypt.

For New Zealand, the match closed a demanding group assignment against one of the tournament’s established European sides. For Belgium, it was a cleaner statement: the team did not merely win, it managed the game on its own terms and then added one more goal in the closing seconds. In a World Cup built around a larger field and a longer route to the title, that kind of discipline can be as important as the score itself.