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All Whites eliminated after loss to Belgium

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 26: Romelu Lukaku #9 of Belgium celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between New Zealand and Belgium at BC Place Vancouver on June 26, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

New Zealand 1-5 Belgium

VANCOUVER, BC–New Zealand’s World Cup is over following a 5-1 thrashing by Belgium at BC Place in Vancouver. It is the All Whites’ worst defeat at a World Cup, while Belgium progress as group winners following Egypt and Iran playing to a 1-1 draw in Seattle.

Belgium had been underwhelming in their first two matches, but turned it on in this one. Belgium took the lead in the 28th minute as a Kevin De Bruyne corner was allowed to bounce in the six-yard box and Leandro Tr0ssard pounced on it. Trossard then got a second in the 50th minute off a rebound and another assist by De Bruyne.

De Bruyne got a goal himself in the 66th minute to put the match out of reach and New Zealand on a plane ride back home. Elijah Jus pulled one back for New Zealand–his third of the World Cup, but normal service resumed as Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers added a pair of goals to give Belgium its biggest win at a World Cup ever and the first time they scored five in a Cup match since 2018.

Belgium now await a third place team on Wednesday in Seattle (1pm PT, FS1/Telemundo). As for New Zealand, despite the early exit, head coach Darren Bazeley sees a brighter future for the All Whites.

“So many of these guys will be back,” said Bazeley after the match.“The experience of this is going to make us better in those moments that we haven’t dealt with this tournament.

“Next tournament, I think we’ll be a lot more hardened, a lot more street-understanding of these moments and how important they are and we can deal with them better next time.”

It will be a World Cup that New Zealand will be likely to qualify for given then current format. There is opportunity for a greater pipeline of players with the addition of Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix in Australian’s A League Men competition. The former of the two actually won the title a few weeks ago. But for now, it’s another first round exit and wondering what could have been.