Group G — the line-up
- Belgium
- Egypt
- Iran
- New Zealand
The opening match
Belgium vs New Zealand — Sunday 14 June, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
The defining match
Belgium vs Egypt — Saturday 20 June, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
What’s at stake
Salah’s likely last World Cup vs a Belgium side trying to convince anyone the golden generation isn’t fully dead. Both De Bruyne (eye) and Lukaku (hip) carry Napoli injuries into the tournament. Iran are organized and stubborn, New Zealand are the relative makeweights — Belgium should still progress comfortably, but the De Bruyne/Lukaku fitness is genuinely concerning.
Top scorer market
Mohamed Salah (Egypt) — likely his last World Cup, supply lines through Egypt’s deep-block setup
Our betting view
Egypt to qualify in second place is the standout group market — Salah factor + soft draw makes this the highest-EV group qualifying market in the tournament.
How qualification works
Twelve groups, four teams each, top two advance plus the eight best third-place finishers fill out the new Round of 32. That third-place lifeline matters more than people realise — even teams that lose their opener can still progress with a single draw and a win.
Where to bet on Group G
Group-stage markets are where sportsbooks differentiate hardest. Books with the deepest group-winner, qualification, exact-finishing-positions and head-to-head markets win the group-stage audit. See our ranked sportsbook line-up for WC 2026.
Related content
- World Cup 2026 hub — full tournament overview
- World Cup 2026 outright predictions — winner, Golden Boot, dark horses
- Best betting sites for WC 2026
- Free bets for the World Cup 2026
18+ only. Odds quoted are a snapshot and change frequently. Bet responsibly: BeGambleAware.