World Cup 2026 Group G Preview

The World Cup content machine here at Metro Philadelphia and Philly Sports Network rolls on with a preview of Group G, featuring a European side in a transition period, a top African side, a Middle Eastern team dreaming of a big World Cup Appearance, and a massive underdog from Oceania returning after 16 years away. 

North America 2026: Group G Preview

Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand are the four nations in World Cup Group G, and this group could deliver many shocks given how little is known about these teams. Belgium is coming off the back of a terrible 2022 World Cup and their golden generation is over, Egypt will be looking to capitalise on what is likely Mohamed Salah's last World Cup for the team, Iran is hoping they can build off their 2022 World Cup campaign that saw them win one game and come close to getting out of the groups, and New Zealand will be looking to pull off a huge surprise as they make their World Cup return for the first time in 16 years. 

A replica of official Trionda match ball for FIFA World Cup 2026 is displayed ahead of the press conference

Issei Kato

Belgium

Belgium head into this World Cup on the back of a decade or so of having their golden generation, a generation many believed would dominate world football, but that never came to fruition, and now they will be a sort of unknown for this World Cup, with the squad being in transition, featuring both aging stars and young players full of potential. 

While the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, and Thomas Meunier are still on the squad, Belgium will need their aging stars to be at their best for the tournament. The focus in this squad is on the next generation coming through, with the likes of Zeno Debast, Nathan Ngoy, Diego Moreira, and others to watch this tournament, as they look to make their mark on the biggest stage in sport. 

This group, on paper, should be on that Belgium manages to finish in the top spot for, but with their main offensive threats being aging stars suffering from major injuries, and their backline made up of younger, internationally inexperienced players, I'm not so sure they'll have the easy ride many will believe. 

Belgium’s Jeremy Doku (11) controls the ball against the USA at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Dale Zanine

Egypt

The most successful African nation, with their 7 AFCON titles, Egypt will be hoping that their 2026 World Cup campaign will finally be one they can be happy with, their 4th appearance at the World Cup. 2018 was a disaster for the Egyptians, as they crashed out of their group with a single point on the board after three group games. 

This World Cup will likely be Mohamed Salah's final one for his nation, and he will be looking to hit the ground running after 2018's appearance was ruined by an injury he sustained throughout it. Egypt will also be hoping that Salah can link up with Manchester City's Omar Marmoush, with the two attackers very capable of firing their nation into the knockout stages on their own. 

Egypt had a pretty good AFCON campaign back in January, and their defensive tactics will be called upon once again at the World Cup. Hossam Abdelmaguid was a standout for the team at AFCON this year, and this will be a huge opportunity for him to showcase his talents and help lead the defensive line for his nation. 

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Semi Final - Senegal v Egypt - Tangier Grand Stadium, Tangier, Morocco - January 14, 2026.Senegal's Nicolas Jackson in action with Egypt's Yasser Ibrahim REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo

Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Iran

Iran will be heading into this World Cup with a lot of attention and light on them, but sadly, it has nothing to do with what the team is capable of on the pitch. Due to everything that has happened over the past months, eyes will be on the tensions between the host nation, the US, and Iran, having to play in a country that they are currently bouncing between being in a war with or not.  

From Iranian fans struggling to follow their team at the World Cup, due to the travel ban placed on them by the US President, to recent reports suggesting the team and their players are yet to receive their US visas, less than two weeks away from their opening game, to Iranian based players not playing a competitive game due to the Persian Gulf League being suspended since February due to the war, the whole scenario has been a nightmare for everyone involved with Iranian football and Iran as a whole and I just hope that everyone manages to stay safe and everything goes smoothly during the tournament over the next month or so. 

On the pitch, Iran impressed going forward during their qualifying games, but they looked vulnerable at the back. Thankfully for fans, though, their most recent batch of friendlies has shown Amir Ghalenoei has adapted his tactics, and the team looks much more comfortable defending and off the ball. 

While all the pressure falls on the country's hero, Mehdi Taremi, to score goals and lead his nation into the knockout stages for the first time in their history, young players like Amirmohammad Razzaghinia will also be looked to showcase their talents on the sport's biggest stage.  

Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh celebrates scoring their second goal

Molly Darlington

New Zealand

New Zealand finally returns to the World Cup, 16 years after their last appearance in the 2010 edition of the tournament, where they went undefeated in their three group games and lost out on the knockout stages heartbreakingly, when Slovakia upset Italy in the final group game and condemned the All-Whites to a 3rd place finish.

Only two members of the 2010 team remain heading into the 2026 tournament: striker, national team top goalscorer, and national icon Chris Wood, and 36-year-old center-back and leader Tommy Smith. The squad contains some interesting young talent, with the likes of Auckland FC's winger Jesse Randall and Portland Timbers center-back Finn Surman making the squad and likely starters. 

New Zealand is comfortably the group's major underdog, but they headed into 2010 with the same reputation and nearly shocked the world, and they'll be looking to do the same and pull off a huge upset. The All-Whites try to play with the ball, unlike past teams, and seek to control possession, but the team might need to switch to a more direct, defensive approach if they are to reach the latter stages of the tournament. 

New Zealand defender Tyler Bindon (4) shoots against Haiti midfielder Dominique Simon (25) during the first half at Chase Stadium.

Jeff Romance

Group G kicks off June 15!

Group G consists of a lot of unknowns for the World Cup, both on the pitch and off it too, with Belgium going through a transitional period after a failing golden generation, Iran dealing with all the turmoil off the pitch and much more important topics than football right now, New Zealand looking to pull off a major surprise at their first World Cup in 16 years, and Egypt looking to finally have a successful World Cup campaign to their name. 

In my opinion, even with how lackluster their squad looks after the end of their golden generation, Belgium should be topping this group quite comfortably. 2nd place is most likely between Egypt and Iran, with New Zealand trying to put their hat in the ring, but I’m going to say Egypt just edges out Iran to 2nd place due to the off-field turmoil proving to be too much of a factor for Iran and their squad's match fitness. 

Matchday 1: 

Matchday 2: 

Matchday 3: 

For more reading on the World Cup, check out our other previews:

Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D

Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H

Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L