No group at the 2026 World Cup comes loaded with more off field drama than Group G. Iran playing the World Cup in the USA is always going to take the headlines! Other than that, we have Belgium, Egypt and also New Zealand making up Group F on BETDAQ EXCHANGE WORLD CUP with Group F!. Belgium and Egypt opening against each other in Seattle on June 15th is a mouthwatering clash, Belgium seem to have fluffed their golden generation and then you have Mo Salah in almost certainly his final tournament. Obviously it’s always best to leave politics out of football, but it’s hard to ignore here – Iran’s participation – while confirmed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino – remains one of the most politically charged stories in recent World Cup history, with the backdrop of a joint US-Israeli operation. And what about the Iran v Egypt fixture on June 26th at Lumen Field in Seattle has already been designated a Pride Match by the host city, which has drawn formal protests from both the Iranian and Egyptian football federations!
Group G
• Belgium
• Egypt
• Iran
• New Zealand
🇧🇪 Belgium (🔢 FIFA Ranking: 9th)
Belgium qualified impressively by topping UEFA Group J unbeaten, but that’s not new. Belgium have made a habit of sailing through qualifying and then fluffing their lines at major tournaments. They are managed by Rudi Garcia (pictured below), the experienced French coach who took over in January 2025 following Domenico Tedesco’s underwhelming spell. However, they seemed to have missed out on their golden generation; there was a period when they would come into every major tournament as a lot of people’s fancies – now they are trading 50.0 to win Outright. This should be the last World Cup for multiple members of Belgium’s famed golden generation – De Bruyne, Lukaku, Courtois and Witsel may all be making their final appearances. The pressure to finally deliver a major tournament is big of course, but I do feel their moment has passed. At the same time, you would be surprised if they didn’t win Group G given the opposition.
🇪🇬 Egypt (🔢 FIFA Ranking: 29th)
Egypt are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2018 after a dominant CAF qualifying campaign – they topped their group with eight wins from ten matches, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two. It is only the fourth time in their history that Egypt have qualified, and they arrive carrying one of the most emotionally charged stories of the tournament. Mo Salah (pictured below) is their main man, and he has been in the headlines this season at Liverpool for all the wrong reasons. Arne Slot will be pleased to see him move on, but to be honest as a club legend he was treated quite poorly this season. He will have a point to prove here, and that will of course help Egypt. Egypt have never won a single World Cup match across three previous appearances. In this Group, a first World Cup win, and possibly a first-ever knockout round appearance, is absolutely within reach.
🇮🇷 Iran (🔢 FIFA Ranking: 21st)
Iran are higher in the FIFA rankings than Egypt, but obviously the market doesn’t rate the FIFA rankings given they are a bigger price to win Group G than Egypt. Iran’s presence in Group G is surrounded by unprecedented politics. Following a joint US Israeli military operation that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speculation had mounted about whether Iran would participate at all. FIFA president Infantino was sure they would be here: “Of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course Iran will play in the USA.” You couldn’t really say more to put the issue to bed, but obviously every game is going to have some politics involved given the situation. Iranian football officials have also faced visa complications – Canadian authorities denied entry to a federation delegation ahead of the FIFA Congress. There will be protests inside and outside the ground at their games, and the political backdrop will be all consuming. I don’t see it going any other way really. On the pitch, Iran are one of Asia’s most consistent qualifiers – this is their fourth consecutive World Cup and seventh overall. They qualified by topping their AFC Group; but they are massively up against it here. They have never escaped the Group stage in seven appearances and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding this campaign makes it all the more difficult.
🇳🇿 New Zealand (🔢 FIFA Ranking: 85th)
New Zealand are back at the World Cup for only the third time in their history, having last appeared in 2010 under the same qualification pathway through the OFC confederation. They won through OFC qualification in the third round, beating New Caledonia in the final to book their place. Obviously the standard of football is quite low, and it’s no surprise that they are outsiders in this Group. Captain Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest is their talisman, though he has been working back from a five month injury absence. New Zealand have never won a game at a World Cup, their most realistic chance of picking up points is the opener against Iran on June 15th in LA. I suppose given the new tournament format; that game might get either side into a best third place spot to get out of the Group.
GROUP G BETTING PREDICTION
Who Will Top Group G And Who Will Qualify From Group G?
It’s really hard to see past Belgium as Group G Winner. They are the dominant market favourites to win, trading around 1.55 to top the Group. Egypt are their closest challengers at around 5.5, with Iran at around 7.5 and New Zealand the outsiders at around 20.0+. The Salah factor is enormous for Egypt but obviously he will have to do a lot of work himself, and he hasn’t exactly had much game time this season. He is obviously a top class players though, and with a point to prove he could easily carry the nation on his back. However, the 1.55 on Belgium is too big here in my opinion.
I know Belgium have made a habit of fluffing their lines at major tournaments, but the squad quality is a level above the rest of this Group. Beating average opposition is basically what they do best isn’t it. They will come up short later in the tournament no doubt, but the 1.55 looks the stand out value play and I’m happy with a confident bet.
The Ultra Says:
Four points win Belgium Group G Winner at 1.55 with BETDAQ EXCHANGE WORLD CUP
