New Zealand vs Belgium Full Match
On June 27, 2026, the World Cup stage was set for an intriguing encounter as New Zealand faced off against Belgium. Both teams took to the pitch with high ambitions, looking to secure a vital result in this prestigious tournament.
Belgium Break the Deadlock
Belgium established dominance from the opening whistle, pinning New Zealand back with slick passing and high-tempo movement. Leandro Trossard came agonizingly close to the opener in the 11th minute, striking the post after being played through by Hans Vanaken. The New Zealand goalkeeper, Max Crocombe, was forced into several early saves, denying both Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku. The pressure finally told in the 28th minute when Trossard reacted quickest to a loose ball following a corner, stabbing his right-footed shot home from close range.
New Zealand struggled to find an outlet, with Chris Wood often isolated upfront. Despite a VAR review for a potential Belgium penalty being dismissed in the 21st minute, the Europeans remained firmly in control. Charles De Ketelaere nearly doubled the lead before halftime, but Crocombe once again stood tall to keep the deficit at a single goal heading into the break.
A Second-Half Goal Fest
The second period began with Belgium finding another gear. Just five minutes after the restart, Leandro Trossard secured his brace with a clinical finish into the top left corner, once again assisted by the influential Vanaken. The result felt beyond doubt in the 66th minute when Kevin De Bruyne showcased his world-class quality, firing a low shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner to make it 3-0.
New Zealand found a moment of joy in the 84th minute as Elijah Just pounced on a loose ball in the box to pull one back. However, any hopes of a miracle comeback were swiftly extinguished. Substitute Romelu Lukaku headed home from close range in the 86th minute, and in the dying moments of stoppage time, Alexis Saelemaekers completed the rout with a tidy finish following a lightning-fast break led by Lukaku. The final whistle confirmed a comprehensive 5-1 victory for the Belgium side.
