Group G nations are displayed during the draw for the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup taking place in the US, Canada and Mexico, at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, DC. AFP
In the knockout stage, the winner of the group will take on the third-placed team from groups A/E/H/I or J next, while the group runners-up will face Group D runners-up.
Find out all you need to know about Egypt opponents:
Belgium:
FIFA ranking: 8
Qualification: UEFA Group Stage Winners
Coach: Rudi Garcia (France)
Achievements:
UEFA European Championship 1972 (Third place)
UEFA European Championship 1980 (Runners-up)
FIFA World Cup 2018 (Third place)
Notable players:
Youri Tielemans (28 – midfielder- Aston Villa)
Romelu Lukaku (32 – striker Napoli)
Kevin De Bruyne (34 – midfielder - Napoli)
Thibaut Courtois (33 – goalkeeper - Real Madrid)
Jérémy Doku (23 – winger – Manchester City)
Leandro Trossard (31 – winger – Arsenal)
Loïs Openda (31 – striker – Juventus)
Head-to-head record:
30/3/ 1999: Belgium 0-1 Egypt (International friendly)
09/2/2005: Egypt 4-0 Belgium (International friendly)
06/6/2018: Belgium 3-0 Egypt (International friendly)
18/11/ 2022: Egypt 2-1 Belgium (International friendly)
Iran:
FIFA Ranking: 20
Qualification: AFC Third Round Group Winners
Coach: Amir Ghalenoei (Iran)
Achievements:
AFC Asian Cup 1968, 1972, 1976 (Winners)
AFC Asian Cup 1980, 1988, 1996, 2004, 2019, 2023 (Third place)
AFC–OFC Challenge Cup 2003 (Winners)
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations 1991 (Runners-up)
Notable players:
Mehdi Taremi (33 – striker – Inter Milan)
Sardar Azmoun (30 – striker - Shabab Al Ahli)
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (32 – winger - Dender EH)
Alireza Beiranvand (33 – goalkeeper – Tractor)
Head-to-head record:
16/7/1975: Iran 2-1 Egypt (Iran Cup)
07/6/2000: Iran 1-1 Egypt (LG Cup Four Nations Tournament)
New Zealand:
FIFA Ranking: 86
Qualification: OFC Qualifying Winners
Coach: Darren Bazeley (UK)
Achievements:
AFC–OFC Challenge Cup 2003 (third place)
OFC Nations Cup 1973, 1998, 2002, 2008, 2016, 2024 (Winners)
OFC Nations Cup 2000 (Runners-up)
OFC Nations Cup 2004, 2012 (third place)
Notable players:
Chris Wood (33 – striker – Nottingham Forest
Marko Stamenić (23 – midfielder - Swansea City)
Michael Boxall (37 – defender - Minnesota United)
Tyler Bindon (20 – defender - Sheffield United)
Head-to-head record:
10/7/1999: Egypt 1-1 New Zealand (International Friendly)
15/7/1999: Egypt 1-0 New Zealand (International Friendly)
22/3/2024: Egypt 1-0 New Zealand (FIFA Series 2024)
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