World Cup 2026: Group G Preview

Preview to Group G

BELGIUM

MANAGER: Rudi Garcia

FIFA RANKING: 9

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 14

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: 3rd Place - 2018

Belgium are a team at a crossroads coming into this tournament because they're not the team they used to be and no one knows what to expect from them. Their golden generation era is over and has been since Qatar with their group stage exit marking the end of it. Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are the only players from that side still around but none of them bar Courtois are the players they used to be. They've been blooding in new talents over the last few years but whether their next generation will be as succesful as their old one remains to be seen.

KEY PLAYER: Jeremy Doku

Position: Winger

Club: Man City

Begium's new generation need to step up now that their old one is pretty much over and Doku looks most likely to be the player that leads it. He can blow hot and cold at times but when he's on it, he's a handful for any player. He showed signs that his end product is improving with City last season and if he can step up for his team at this tournament, he could be Belgium's new Eden Hazard.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Amadou Onana

Position: Midfielder

Club: Aston Villa

Onana has everything you want from a midfielder including energy, tenacity and the ability to drive forward with the ball up the pitch. He's grown a lot as a player since he;s been at Villa and he'll give Belgium the energy in midfield that was lacking in Qatar four years ago.

PREDICTION: Last 16

They should definitely win the group because they should still have enough quality to do so. But I think they'll come unstuck against a top side during the knockout rounds.

EGYPT

MANAGER: Hossam Hassan

FIFA RANKING: 29

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 3

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Last 16 - 1934

On paper Egypt are the second favourites to qualify from this open group as they have more than one superstar or well-known player in their side. Mohamed Salah has been their only superstar and the player they've heavily relied on for a number of years, but now they also have Omar Marmoush show will share the burden with Salah and maybe take over as Egypt's new talisman.

KEY PLAYER: Mohamed Salah

Position: Forward

Club: Liverpool

He may have just had his worst season on record, but Salah will still come into this tournament as Egypt's main man. He can still chip in with the odd goal despite his powers being on the decline and with this likely to be his final tournament with Egypt, he'll be looking to end his international career on a high.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Omar Marmoush

Position: Forward

Club: Man City

Marmoush plays in his favoured no.9 position with Egypt unlike the no.10 role he plays most of the time at City due to Erling Haaland being the preferred option. His record for the national is pretty impressive and this tournament could be the one where he takes over as Egypt's main man with Salah ageing and no longer the player he used to be.

PREDICTION: Last 32

They should have enough to get out the group because of the attacking firepower they have the group itself not looking the strongest. But they don't have enough overall quality to threaten the latter stages.

IRAN

MANAGER: Amir Ghalenoei

FIFA RANKING: 21

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 6

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Group Stage x6 - 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022

This could be an uncomfortable World Cup for Iran because they're at war with one of the host nations and there was even talk of them not even taking part at this tournament. It would've been unfair if they were kicked out because they qualified for the tournament and whatever is happening off the pitch has nothing to do with the people involved with football. The players will be thinking about the people of their country when they step out onto the pitch and will be looking to give them something ot cheer about.

KEY PLAYER: Mehdi Taremi

Position: Striker

Club: Olympiacos

Taremi is still as lethal as ever at the age of 33 as he showed in his debut season at Olympiacos. He's been a player who can scored a variety of goals right throughout his career and if Iran are to finally make it out of the group, they're going to need him to step up and deliver the goods.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Saied Ezatolahi

Position: Midfielder

Club: Shabab Al-Ahli

Ezatolahi keeps things ticking in the Iran midfield by controlling the flow of the game and keeping things simple. He's also an excellent reader of the game by disrupting the opposition's play with crucial interceptions and by making crucial challenges. He's one of the reasons why Iran are so organised defensively because he makes sure the ball doesn't get anywhere near it.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

They go out at the group stage whenever they play at this tournament and I can see it happening again at this one. They will make it difficult for teams by being tough to beat, but I don't think they'll have enough quality to qualify.

NEW ZEALAND

MANAGER: Darren Bazeley

FIFA RANKING: 85

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 2

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Group Stage x2 - 1982 and 2010

New Zealand are back at a World Cup finals for the first time since 2010, where they were the only unbeaten side at that tournament with three draws from all three of their group games. They come into this tournament as the lowest ranked side which will make them massive underdogs but not the biggest as they do have one or two well-known players including Chris Wood.

KEY PLAYER: Chris Wood

Position: Striker

Club: Nottingham Forest

Despite an injured ravaged campaign with Forest, Wood will still be the all-white's main man at this tournament because he's their highest calibre of player. He might be a bit rusty and lack fitness after playing only a handful of games last season, but he'll still be their main source for goals.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Tyler Bindon

Position: Centre Back

Club: Nottingham Forest

Bindon impressed on loan at Sheffield United last season as they rose up the Championship following a poor start. He's a centre back who is good both physically and technically as he's comfortable with the ball at his feet and always times his challenge well. New Zealand will set themselves to be well organised defensively at this tournament and Bindon is set to be a big part of that.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

They'll make it difficult for teams by being organised and difficult to beat as they were during qualifying. But they don't have the quality to compete at this level and because of this, I think they'll go home early.