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World Cup 2026 Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand — Four-Goal Opening Day Ends in Controversy
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World Cup 2026 Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand — Four-Goal Opening Day Ends in Controversy

▲ Peak Trend score: 89 Published: June 21, 2026 Updated: June 22, 2026

By Alexandre Le Hégarat datastats

MD1 (June 15): Belgium 1-1 Egypt, Iran 2-2 New Zealand — all on 1 pt. Mohebi (Iran) deported for 'gun' celebration. MD2 (June 21): Belgium 0-0 Iran (Ngoy red card 66', Belgium 10 men; Taremi goal ruled offside by VAR); Egypt 3-1 New Zealand (Surman 15' NZ; Ziko 58', Salah 67', Trezeguet 82' EGY) — Egypt's first ever World Cup win. Standings: Egypt 4 pts, Belgium 2, Iran 2, New Zealand 1. MD3 (June 26): Egypt vs Iran, Belgium vs New Zealand.

The context

Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has already generated two of the tournament’s defining subplots — and both matches only just took place.

In Seattle on June 15, Belgium’s opening match against Egypt started ominously. Egypt’s Emam Ashour scored with his first-ever international goal in the 19th minute at Lumen Field, and Belgium’s technical superiority — their possession, their chances, their high press — failed to translate into goals. For 47 minutes Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco watched his side labour without reward, before turning to Romelu Lukaku. The veteran striker had been on the pitch for precisely 23 seconds when Egypt’s Mohamed Hany turned the ball into his own net under the pressure of Lukaku’s movement. Belgium had their equaliser. Lukaku himself did not score, but his presence alone changed the game — one of the clearest demonstrations of an impact substitute at this tournament. The final score was 1-1, a point Belgium will not be satisfied with.

At SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the Group G evening match produced a four-goal spectacle. New Zealand — a side that has never advanced past the group stage in men’s World Cup history — took the lead through Elijah Just in the 7th minute and doubled it in the 54th in what looked like the upset of the group stage. Iran’s Ramin Rezaeian pulled one back at 32’ to keep the tie alive, and Mohammad Mohebi’s 64th-minute equaliser completed the comeback. The 2-2 scoreline was a fair result in an end-to-end match, but it was Mohebi’s post-goal celebration that became the real story — a gesture widely interpreted as a ‘gun’ pointed at his arm, triggering viral outrage, a FIFA investigation, and a political storm.

The fallout from Mohebi’s celebration escalated beyond football. US authorities deported Mohebi ahead of Iran’s Matchday 2 fixture against Belgium on June 21, citing the incident. Iran filed a formal complaint with FIFA, arguing the deportation constituted interference in a sporting competition. The affair has drawn global attention to Group G far beyond any football result — and leaves Iran significantly weakened for their crucial match against Belgium without their most creative attacking threat.

With all four teams tied on one point after Matchday 1, Group G appeared entirely undecided. Matchday 2 on June 21 delivered contrasting drama in both matches.

At SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Belgium and Iran — both desperate for their first win — produced a tense, goalless battle that ended in frustration for both sides. Belgium’s Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the 66th minute for fouling Mehdi Taremi to prevent a breakaway goal, leaving the Red Devils with ten men. Iran had a Taremi free-kick disallowed by VAR for offside in the first half. Despite Belgium going down to ten men, they continued to create chances and arguably deserved a goal. The match ended 0-0: both teams remain on 2 points and their fate is undecided ahead of MD3 on June 26.

In Vancouver at BC Place, Egypt made history. Finn Surman headed New Zealand in front from a corner in the 15th minute, and for the first 57 minutes it looked like New Zealand might engineer the upset of the group. Then Egypt’s second-half onslaught: Mostafa Ziko equalised in the 58th minute, Mohamed Salah scored to make it 2-1 in the 67th, and Trézéguet converted a corner delivered by Salah in the 82nd to complete a 3-1 victory. It is Egypt’s first ever win at a FIFA World Cup — a landmark result for Egyptian and African football. Egypt top Group G with 4 points; Belgium and Iran each have 2; New Zealand have 1.

Matchday 3 on June 26 will decide everything: Egypt vs Iran (Egypt need only a draw to qualify), and Belgium vs New Zealand (Belgium need to win to be certain of advancing).

People also ask

What teams are in Group G of the 2026 World Cup?#
Group G contains Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. Belgium are the highest-ranked side and pre-tournament favourites to top the group; Egypt are a seasoned African nation at this World Cup; Iran's campaign became overshadowed by a diplomatic controversy involving a player's goal celebration; New Zealand produced one of the opening round's biggest surprises with a brace from Elijah Just.
What was the score of Belgium vs Egypt at the 2026 World Cup?#
Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 on June 15, 2026, at Lumen Field in Seattle. Egypt's Emam Ashour gave them a shock lead in the 19th minute — his first-ever international goal. Belgium brought on Romelu Lukaku as a substitute in the 66th minute, and within 23 seconds of his arrival Egypt's Mohamed Hany deflected the ball into his own net under pressure, levelling the match. Belgium dominated possession but could not find a winner in 90 minutes.
What was the score of Iran vs New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup?#
Iran and New Zealand drew 2-2 on June 15, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California — one of the most entertaining matches of the 2026 World Cup's opening round. New Zealand's Elijah Just put the All Whites ahead in the 7th minute and doubled the advantage in the 54th. Iran fought back through Ramin Rezaeian (32') and Mohammad Mohebi (64') to rescue an equaliser. New Zealand led for much of the match in one of the group stage's most dramatic results.
Who is Elijah Just, New Zealand's scorer against Iran at the 2026 World Cup?#
Elijah Just is New Zealand's midfielder who scored twice against Iran on June 15, 2026 — goals in the 7th and 54th minutes at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood — as the All Whites drew 2-2. His brace was one of the surprise individual performances of the 2026 World Cup's opening round, with New Zealand twice leading against a much higher-ranked Iranian side. Just's double makes him New Zealand's standout performer of the group stage so far.
What was Mohammad Mohebi's controversial celebration at the 2026 World Cup?#
Iran midfielder Mohammad Mohebi scored in the 64th minute against New Zealand on June 15, 2026, and celebrated with a gesture widely interpreted as a gun pointed at his arm. The celebration went viral immediately and drew a formal FIFA disciplinary investigation. Mohebi explained he was expressing solidarity with Iranian fans in Los Angeles and did not intend a threatening gesture. The controversy escalated dramatically in the days that followed.
Why was Mohebi deported before the Belgium vs Iran match at the 2026 World Cup?#
Mohammad Mohebi was deported by US authorities ahead of Iran's Matchday 2 match against Belgium on June 21, 2026 — reportedly in connection with his controversial goal celebration gesture during the 2-2 draw with New Zealand, widely interpreted as a 'gun' gesture. Iran lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, describing the deportation as interference in the sporting competition. Mohebi's absence is a significant blow to Iran's attacking options for their crucial Group G fixture.
How did Lukaku change the Belgium vs Egypt match at the 2026 World Cup?#
Romelu Lukaku came on as a substitute for Belgium in the 66th minute of their 1-1 draw with Egypt on June 15, 2026. Within 23 seconds of his arrival, Egypt's Mohamed Hany turned the ball into his own net under the pressure created by Lukaku's movement, giving Belgium their equaliser. Lukaku himself did not score, but his immediate physical impact directly led to the own goal. It underlined the veteran striker's value as an impact substitute even at international level.
What are the Group G standings after Matchday 2 of the 2026 World Cup?#
After Matchday 1 (June 15): all four teams level on 1 point each. After Matchday 2 (June 21): Egypt lead on 4 points after their historic 3-1 win over New Zealand; Belgium and Iran are tied on 2 points each after their goalless draw; New Zealand are bottom on 1 point. Matchday 3 (June 26): Egypt vs Iran, Belgium vs New Zealand — Egypt need only a draw vs Iran to qualify.
What was the score of Belgium vs Iran at the 2026 World Cup?#
Belgium and Iran drew 0-0 on June 21, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The match's decisive moment came in the 66th minute when Belgium's Nathan Ngoy received a straight red card for fouling Mehdi Taremi to deny a clear goal-scoring chance. Playing with ten men, Belgium still created chances but couldn't score. Iran — weakened by the absence of the deported Mohebi — saw Taremi put the ball in the net from a free kick but it was ruled out by VAR for offside. Both teams remain on 2 points ahead of the decisive MD3 on June 26.
What was the score of Egypt vs New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup?#
Egypt defeated New Zealand 3-1 on June 21, 2026, at BC Place in Vancouver — Egypt's first ever victory in a FIFA World Cup. Finn Surman gave New Zealand a shock 1-0 lead with a header from a corner in the 15th minute. Egypt took control in the second half: Mostafa Ziko equalised in the 58th, Mohamed Salah made it 2-1 in the 67th, and Trézéguet sealed the win in the 82nd minute with a corner-kick assist from Salah. Egypt go top of Group G with 4 points; New Zealand are bottom with 1.
Who scored for Belgium and Egypt in Group G at the 2026 World Cup?#
Emam Ashour scored for Egypt in the 19th minute of the Belgium vs Egypt draw on June 15, 2026 — his first goal in international football. Belgium's equaliser came via a Mohamed Hany own goal in the 66th minute, with Romelu Lukaku's substitution directly creating the pressure that led to it. Lukaku did not score himself but had an immediate impact from the bench.
Who scored for Iran and New Zealand in Group G at the 2026 World Cup?#
Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand against Iran on June 15, 2026 (7' and 54'). Iran replied through Ramin Rezaeian (32') and Mohammad Mohebi (64') to salvage a 2-2 draw. Mohebi's goal became infamous not for the finish but for the celebration that followed — a gesture interpreted as a 'gun' that led to a FIFA investigation and his deportation from the US.
Did Egypt ever win a World Cup match before 2026?#
No. The 3-1 victory over New Zealand on June 21, 2026, is Egypt's first ever win at a FIFA World Cup. Egypt had previously appeared at the World Cup in 1934 (the first African nation to do so), 1990, and 2018 without winning a match. The win in Vancouver is a historic milestone for Egyptian football and for African football as a whole.
Who is Trézéguet the Egyptian footballer and what did he do at the 2026 World Cup?#
Trézéguet (Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan) is an Egyptian winger who plays for Al Ahly and wears the nickname of French World Cup legend David Trezeguet. He scored Egypt's crucial third goal in the 82nd minute against New Zealand on June 21, 2026, at BC Place in Vancouver — converting a corner-kick delivery by Mohamed Salah to seal Egypt's historic 3-1 win, their first ever at a World Cup. His goal sparked trending searches worldwide.

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