Levi Rothermund
New Zealand and Belgium meet at BC Place Stadium on June 26, 2026 (23:00), in what shapes up as a defining World Cup group stage contest. Both sides carry recent form into this fixture, with New Zealand coming off a 1-3 defeat to Egypt and Belgium held to a 0-0 draw against Iran.
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New Zealand Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
The All Whites are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Maxime Crocombe starts in goal. The back four consists of Tim Payne, Michael Boxall, Finn Surman, and Liberato Cacace. Joe Bell and Marko Stamenic anchor the double pivot in midfield. Callum McCowatt, Sarpeet Singh, and Elijah Just operate across the attacking midfield band, with Chris Wood leading the line as the lone striker.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Maxime Crocombe |
| RB | Tim Payne |
| CB | Finn Surman |
| CB | Michael Boxall |
| LB | Liberato Cacace |
| CM | Joe Bell |
| CM | Marko Stamenic |
| AM | Callum McCowatt |
| AM | Sarpeet Singh |
| AM | Elijah Just |
| ST | Chris Wood |
New Zealand Bench
- Francis De Vries
- Tyler Bindon
- Logan Rogerson
- Alexander Paulsen
- Alex Rufer
- Nando Pijnaker
- Kosta Barbarouses
- Ben Waine
- Benjamin Old
- Jesse Randall
- Michael Woud
- Ryan Thomas
- Callan Elliott
- Lachlan Bayliss
- Tommy Smith
Belgium Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Belgium mirror their opponents’ structure with a 4-2-3-1. Thibaut Courtois starts between the sticks. Thomas Meunier and Maxim De Cuyper operate as full-backs, with Brandon Mechele and Arthur Theate forming the central defensive partnership. Youri Tielemans partners in midfield alongside another presence in the double pivot. Hans Vanaken, Kevin De Bruyne, and Leandro Trossard provide the creative layer behind Romelu Lukaku, who leads the attack. Jeremy Doku is listed among the anticipated starters wide.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Thibaut Courtois |
| RB | Thomas Meunier |
| CB | Brandon Mechele |
| CB | Arthur Theate |
| LB | Maxim De Cuyper |
| CM | Youri Tielemans |
| CM | Hans Vanaken |
| AM | Jeremy Doku |
| AM | Kevin De Bruyne |
| AM | Leandro Trossard |
| ST | Romelu Lukaku |
Belgium Bench
- Axel Witsel
- Senne Lammens
- Mike Penders
- Dodi Lukebakio
- Koni De Winter
- Charles De Ketelaere
- Joaquin Seys
- D. da Silva Moreira
- Timothy Castagne
- Amadou Mvom Onana
- M. Fernandez Pardo
- Nicolas Raskin
- Alexis Saelemaekers
- Nathan Ngoy
Recent Form
New Zealand were beaten 1-3 by Egypt in their previous World Cup outing, with Finn Surman scoring their sole goal in the 15th minute. Belgium, despite fielding significant quality across the pitch, were held to a goalless draw by Iran, with Lukaku substituted off in the 73rd minute and De Bruyne exiting late in the 87th.
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Follow TipsGG for full match coverage, betting analysis, and live updates as this World Cup group stage fixture kicks off on June 26.