There was a moment, between 2018 and 2022, when Belgium were considered the best team in the world without a trophy to show for it. Third in Russia 2018, number one in the FIFA rankings for months on end, a generation of players who looked capable of winning any tournament. And yet, nothing. The disappointment of Qatar 2022 — group-stage elimination after a defeat to Morocco and a goalless draw with Croatia — was the turning point.

Group G at the 2026 World Cup poses a direct question: is there anything left of that Belgium, or are we watching the final minutes of a clock that has been ticking for years?

Belgium: the clock is ticking

De Bruyne, Courtois, Lukaku — the names that defined an era of Belgian football are still active, but the accumulated wear and tear of over a decade at the highest level is evident. The squad has tried to bring in fresh faces, and they are there, but managing a generational transition mid-tournament is one of the most difficult exercises in international football.

What Belgium have not lost is individual quality in key positions. They still have an elite goalkeeper, creative midfielders and forwards who know where the net is. What they have lost is the aura of invincibility. After the debacle in Qatar, the team knows that talent alone is not enough; hunger is needed, and that is harder to manufacture when you have had multiple opportunities and let them slip.

Group G should be manageable for the Belgians. But the same was said before Qatar.

Iran: the Asian veteran nobody wants to face

Iran are the most experienced West Asian nation at World Cups, with six appearances that reflect remarkable consistency in continental qualifying. Iranian football has characteristics that make it uncomfortable for any rival: tactical discipline, physical aggression in the duels, and a solid defensive mentality that forces opponents to find creative solutions.

In Qatar 2022, Iran came within seconds of eliminating the United States in the group stage before a late American goal knocked them out. That razor-thin margin perfectly illustrates what it is like to play against this team: it is never easy, never comfortable, and the outcome always comes down to fine details.

Against Belgium, Iran will not try to play as equals. They do not need to. Their game is built from defensive solidity, waiting for the opponent’s mistake to punish on the counter.

New Zealand: the All Whites in uncharted territory

Every time New Zealand qualify for a World Cup, it makes headlines. The sole representative of the Oceania Football Confederation, with an amateur-based football culture competing for resources against rugby and cricket, the mere presence of the All Whites at this tournament is an achievement in itself.

Their closest historical reference point is South Africa 2010, where they claimed three draws in the group stage — including a memorable 1-1 against Italy, the then-defending champions. Though eliminated, they did not lose a single match at that World Cup.

New Zealand do not have the squad to go toe-to-toe with Belgium or Iran for a full ninety minutes. What they do have is a well-drilled defensive structure, the resilience that comes from knowing every minute at a World Cup is a privilege, and the capacity to turn a seemingly lost cause into a heroic draw.

Egypt: Salah carries a nation on his shoulders

Egypt return to a World Cup after the Russia 2018 experience, a tournament that left a bitter taste: three defeats in three matches, with Mohamed Salah playing through a shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League final weeks earlier.

This time, Salah arrives in very different condition. As one of the best players in the world, his ability to single-handedly change the course of a match makes Egypt a genuine threat to anyone in the group. Egypt’s challenge is not the quality of their star, but the gap between Salah and the average level of the rest of the squad.

If the team can build a defensive structure that shields their weak points and allows Salah to operate in open spaces, Egypt can be competitive. If they depend exclusively on moments of individual brilliance, the margin for error will be too thin.

What to expect from Group G

Belgium start as favorites, but they no longer inspire the fear of previous years. Second place looks like an open fight between Iran and Egypt, with very different profiles: Iranian defensive solidity versus Egyptian attacking talent concentrated in Salah.

New Zealand will be the opponent everyone expects to beat comfortably, and that expectation can be both a gift and a trap. The All Whites have not come to participate — they have come to resist. And in a group where a single draw can alter the entire standings, their ability to pick up points should not be dismissed.

If Belgium stumble on the opening day, this group will go from placid to volcanic in ninety minutes.

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