Belgium's 2026 World Cup hangs by a thread: can Doku's team-mates beat New Zealand?

Let's be honest. Nobody expected our Red Devils' FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign to start like this — with the national side on the brink of elimination as the third match looms.

Admittedly, the draw had been kind to us. Egypt, Iran and New Zealand were never going to be heavyweights on paper. But Rudi Garcia's men made a mess of their opener against the Pharaohs, and that complicated everything.

The draw against Iran did nothing to help. Now Belgium simply have to beat New Zealand to go through. GoldenVegas Sport, the online sports betting site, breaks down what's at stake in a fixture that has the whole country on edge.

What are the scenarios for the Red Devils?

Let's hope some of the players have made more of their tournament than Lukaku's team-mates did. With qualification looking all but assured on paper, Belgium now have to reach for the calculator.

For starters, our Belgians are still the bookmakers' favourites for this final group game, with New Zealand quoted at very long odds of 14. So it's not all doom and gloom just yet. Anyone following the World Cup odds can see that Belgium vs New Zealand still tilts firmly in the Devils' favour.

Beat New Zealand and Belgium will top the group, provided they win by at least three clear goals and Iran and Egypt cancel each other out.

They will also finish top if Iran beat Egypt, as long as the Red Devils score more goals than the Iranians to edge ahead on goal difference or goals scored. In every other Belgium qualification scenario, the side will finish runners-up in the group.

Still, we shouldn't forget that this team has answered the call before with its back against the wall, in qualifying against Wales. So will we go through, or crash out in the first round? It all comes down to this one night.

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: 27 June at 5am.

The other mission: putting the Doku affair to bed

If you want to catch our squad in action, you'll need to head to Vancouver, where a clash awaits that should let Belgium draw a definitive line under the Jérémy Doku affair.

The winger missed the Iran match to be in London for the birth of his child. It was a touchy subject that got people talking, given how costly his absence proved for the country.

Back with the squad, will the Manchester City man be fit to start? And can he play the saviour by scoring? The whole of Belgium is hoping he hands the nation the finest new-baby gift of all by finding the back of the net.

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: 27 June at 5am.

A 25% BetXtra is available on every live bet placed on Belgium vs New Zealand, as well as on every match of the FIFA World Cup 2026.