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This is our World Cup news section where we provide any news items that might have a significant effect on the matches being played - or sports betting in general.

World Cup News :: FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G Preview - Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

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Posted on 2026-06-03 by Gooner

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Belgium

The "Golden Generation" has officially collected its pension, yet Belgium somehow continues to cruise through basic qualification as if nothing has changed. They navigated the preliminaries with their usual ruthlessness, but seasoned punters know the drill: they flatter to deceive.

This is a nation whose historic peak remains a lone third-place finish in Russia back in 2018. Now, with Kevin De Bruyne playing through heavy mileage at 34 and a generation of fresh talent still trying to match the elite status of their predecessors, they look incredibly vulnerable against top-tier opposition.

Despite the clear structural transition, the numbers still treat them like royalty. Belgium holds a highly generous FIFA ranking of No. 9, though the World Football Elo Ratings expose the truth, dropping the Red Devils down to a more realistic No. 19.

The bookmakers have virtually written off the rest of the group, pricing the Red Devils as overwhelming -275 (1.36) favorites to win the cluster on the Bet365 World Cup Markets. They have a staggering 73% implied probability of winning the group, making them a prime team to actively lay the moment they hit the knockout rounds.

With Romelu Lukaku struggling for consistent fitness after a disrupted season, the smart money for top team goalscorer isn't on the favorite. Look instead toward Jérémy Doku, who enters the tournament on a red-hot club scoring streak and possesses the raw,

Egypt

Egypt remains a simple, one-man footballing economy wrapped in a historic flag. They secured their spot in the finals after a completely unchallenging CAF qualifying campaign, but the moment you take them out of their continental comfort zone, the flaws become blindingly obvious. Apart from the aging, legendary legs of Mohamed Salah, this roster is completely starved of genuine top-tier European pedigree. I certainly can't remember the last time they had a statement win outside of Africa.

The global metrics show a massive divide in opinion regarding the Pharaohs. They sit comfortably at No. 29 in the FIFA rankings, but the far sharper Elo system punishes their lack of depth, ranking them down at No. 51. Despite this, the bookies have made them the clear second favorites to win the group at +450. The market gives them a very strong look to qualify, assuming Salah can carry the entire nation on his back one last time. If he hits a dry spell, Egypt has absolutely no Plan B.

Iran

Iran is the ultimate copy-paste job of international football. They are perennial qualifiers from Asia, booking their ticket for a fourth consecutive World Cup tournament. They possess a massive domestic player base and an admirable team ethic, but they are completely devoid of the elite, game-breaking talent required to do anything meaningful on the big stage. Their history tells the full story: plenty of appearances, but exactly zero trips out of the group stage.

To make matters worse, their tournament preparation is a logistical nightmare. Due to ongoing geopolitical friction and restrictive travel protocols with the US government, Team Melli is forced into a chaotic, fly-in, fly-out schedule just to play their games.

FIFA ranks them remarkably high at No. 21, but Elo sees right through the Asian qualification padding, placing them at No. 31. Bookmakers have them at +600 to win the group, meaning they are priced tightly with Egypt for that second qualification spot. Expect plenty of discipline, the clinical finishing of Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi, and likely another early flight home.

New Zealand

Then we have New Zealand, a country where football boasts massive participation numbers but zero cultural real estate compared to rugby and cricket. Building a globally competitive side from five million people is a pipe dream, especially when the drop-off after Premier League veteran Chris Wood is a sheer cliff into mid-tier European leagues and the A-League. Their maddening inconsistency was fully exposed in recent warm-up fixtures without an injured Wood; they looked entirely toothless in a dour 0-2 loss to Finland, only to somehow find an attacking gear three days later to hammer Chile 4-1.

The Kiwis' greatest historic football achievement remains a niche trivia answer: they were the only undefeated side at the 2010 World Cup, drawing all three group games—including a famous 1-1 with Italy—before going home anyway. FIFA ranks them at No. 85, while Elo drops them to a more realistic No. 92. Bookmakers view them as literal tourists, pricing the All Whites as +2000 long shots to win the group on Bet365. Unless Wood plays out of his skin and converts every single half-chance, they are making up the numbers.

Group Overview & Best Bets

This group is a masterclass in top-heavy mediocrity. Belgium will treat these games like a series of moderately intense training sessions to top the table, while the remaining three flawed sides engage in a gritty, low-quality scrap for second place.

The Sharp Value Play :
Jérémy Doku – Top Belgium Goalscorer (+700 / 8.00) on Bet365.

Romelu Lukaku completely dominated qualification with a record-breaking 14 goals, which has driven his price down to an unbettable microscopic short. But the group stage of the actual tournament is a different beast. At his age, Lukaku is highly likely to have his minutes heavily managed and rested against group stage minnows like New Zealand and Iran to keep him fresh for the knockouts.

Enter Doku. While he acted strictly as a provider in qualifying, his terrifying raw pace and 1-on-1 dribbling make him Belgium's most lethal weapon against the deep defensive low blocks Egypt and Iran will use. If Lukaku is sitting on the bench to protect his hamstrings, Doku will be forced to transition from provider to executioner. At 8.00, you are gambling on a very logical tactical shift for a massive payout

The Team Totals : New Zealand Under 2.5 Total Group Goals (-125).
We are resurrecting this bet because the pricing is excellent value. While that 4-1 shock against Chile turned some heads, the reality is that World Cup group stages are a completely different animal.

Facing a disciplined Iran, a low-block Egypt, and an elite Belgium, the All Whites are going to find open space an absolute luxury. If Chris Wood gets starved of service, they will struggle to clear this line over 270 minutes of football

 

Sourced From : Gooners Guide to World Cup Betting

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FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group D Preview - USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye