All Whites to face Belgium, Egypt and Iran at 2026 FIFA World Cup
Saturday, 6 December 2025
They say that good things come to those who wait – and that was certainly the case for All Whites coach Darren Bazeley at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw on Saturday (NZ time).
New Zealand were the last team to learn their fate, just over two hours after the ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in the United States started on Friday afternoon local time.
World No 86 New Zealand were drawn with world No 8 Belgium, No 20 Iran and No 34 Egypt in group G at the 48-team tournament, to be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico next June and July.
Speaking to Stuff shortly afterwards, Bazeley's assessment was that it was 'a good group.
“Challenging – but not something to be scared of.“
Like the All Whites, who had three losses in their first appearance in 1982 and three draws last time they qualified in 2010, Egypt are yet to win a match at a World Cup in seven attempts.
Iran have won three of their 18 matches, while Belgium have won 21 of their 51, finishing third in 2018 and fourth in 1986
New Zealand will play Iran in their opener in Los Angeles or Seattle on June 15 (June 16 NZ time), Egypt in LA or Vancouver six days later, and Belgium in Seattle or Vancouver five days after that.
Kickoff times and venues are set to be confirmed by FIFA in a broadcast starting at 6am on Sunday (NZ time).
“It was quite good fun, watching,” Bazeley said.
“I thought we were going to get that group or that group, then we ended up the last team out – can you believe that?”
When it was put to him the outcome had probably been worth the wait, Bazeley said: “I think so.
“They're all good teams, but when you do look across at some of the other groups, there definitely could have been a tougher group for us.”
As the draw reached pot four, containing the All Whites, the next five lowest-ranked teams, and six places reserved for the winners of playoffs that will take place in March, there were nine groups New Zealand could have landed in.
Group A, featuring Mexico, South Africa and South Korea and group D, featuring the US, Paraguay and Australia, both needed European playoff winners.
Group I, featuring France, Senegal and Norway, was the only group the winner of the playoff path featuring Iraq, Bolivia and Suriname could join, due to geographical restrictions.
Group B, where Canada, Qatar and Switzerland were, and group J, featuring Argentina, Algeria and Austria, were the other two the All Whites would have been reasonably happy to have ended up in.
Landing in one of the other six groups would have presented the All Whites with a tougher challenge than the one they’ve been handed.
Joining Brazil, Morocco and Scotland in group C; Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in group H; or Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia in group K would have been the worst-case scenarios at that point.
The All Whites last played Egypt in March 2024, losing a tight contest in Cairo 1-0. Their last meeting with Iran was in 2003 when they lost 3-0 in Tehran. They have never played Belgium.
Bazeley said his players had been in touch throughout the ceremony.
“Quite a few of them were texting during the draw and straight after the draw.
“It’s a big moment for everybody, now the players know who they’re going to be playing and where they’re going to be playing as well.”
How they qualified
The All Whites secured their place at the World Cup with five wins in Oceania, taking the one automatic place on offer to the region now the tournament has been expanded from 32 teams to 48.
Belgium were unbeaten in group J in European qualifying, winning five matches and drawing three.
Their biggest star is Kevin de Bruyne, who now plays for Napoli in Italy after a long stint at Manchester City in the English Premier League.
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard and City's Jérémy Doku and Napoli's Romelu Lukaku will also be major attacking threats.
Egypt were also unbeaten in African qualifying, topping group A with eight wins and two draws, while conceding just two goals.
Their biggest star is Mo Salah, the Liverpool forward who has had an indifferent Premier League campaign so far this season.
Iran topped group A in the third round of Asian qualifying, winning seven, drawing two and losing away to Qatar.
Before that, they topped group E in the second round, winning four and drawing two.
Iran’s biggest star is captain Mehdi Taremi, a striker who has 56 goals in 103 international appearances and plays for Olympiakos in Greece, after stints at Inter Milan in Italy and Porto in Portugal.
All Whites fixtures
Kickoff times and venues to be confirmed on Sunday (NZ time)
June 15 (June 16 NZT) v Iran in Los Angeles or Seattle
June 21 (June 22 NZT) v Egypt in Los Angeles or Vancouver
June 26 (June 27 NZT) v Belgium in Seattle or Vancouver
Full draw
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Winner of European playoff D
Group B: Canada, Winner of European playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Winner of European playoff C.
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner of European playoff B, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Winner of intercontinental playoff 2, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Winner of intercontinental playoff 1, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama