New Zealand’s All Whites will face Belgium, Egypt and Iran in their group at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

They will meet in Group G after the draw was made in Washington DC for the 48-nation tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

While New Zealand are rated #86 in the FIFA men’s world rankings, their group opponents are ranked #8 (Belgium), #34 (Egypt) and #20 (Iran).

Their first game will be against Iran, either in Los Angeles or Seattle.

They will then face Egypt in Los Angeles or Vancouver, before finishing their group fixtures against Belgium in Seattle or Vancouver.

The draw at the John F. Kennedy Center selected 12 groups of four teams, with sides drawn from four seeded pots, but fans will have to wait 24 hours to learn where the groups will take place.

The fixture schedule, with venues and kick-off times, will be released by FIFA at 6am (NZT) on Sunday December 7, 2025.

All Whites fans had to wait till the end of the draw to learn New Zealand’s opponents, with Canadian ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky picking the team’s ball from pot 4 when it was the last remaining option.

Main photo: Wayne Gretzky reveals New Zealand’s name from Pot 4.

New Caledonia, who hope to become Oceania’s second representative at the tournament, will meet Portugal in their opening game, if they qualify through the intercontinental play-off series to be held in Mexico.

Fixtures

Game to be played on Tuesday June 16, 2026 (NZT)

Iran v New Zealand
Los Angeles or Seattle, venue/kick-off TBC

Game to be played on Monday June 22, 2026 (NZT)

Egypt v New Zealand
Los Angeles or Vancouver, venue/kick-off TBC

Game to be played on Saturday June 27, 2026 (NZT)

Belgium v New Zealand
Seattle or Vancouver, venue/kick-off TBC

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup draw

# indicates current FIFA men’s world ranking

Group A

Mexico (co-host) #15
South Africa #61
South Korea #22
European Play-off D (TBD)

Group B

Canada (co-host) #27
European Play-off A (TBD)
Qatar #51
Switzerland #17

Group C

Brazil #5
Morocco #11
Haiti #84
Scotland #36

Group D

United States (co-host) #14
Paraguay #39
Australia #26
European Play-off C (TBD)

Group E

Germany #9
Curaçao #82
Ivory Coast #42
Ecuador #23

Group F

Netherlands #7
Japan #18
European Play-off B (TBD)
Tunisia #40

Group G

Belgium #8
Egypt #34
Iran #20
New Zealand #86

Group H

Spain #1
Cabo Verde #68
Saudi Arabia #60
Uruguay #16

Group I

France #3
Senegal #19
FIFA Play-off Tournament 2 (TBD)
Norway #29

Group J

Argentina #2
Algeria #35
Austria #24
Jordan #66

Group K

Portugal #6
FIFA Play-off Tournament 1 (TBD)
Uzbekistan #50
Colombia #13

Group L

England #4
Croatia #10
Ghana #72
Panama #30

The New Zealand contingent at the draw learn who the All Whites will play. From left, head of communications Tris Cotterill, head coach Darren Bazeley and NZ Football’s chief executive Andrew Pragnell.
Watch the replay of the draw show

A replay of the draw is available at FIFA+ (see link below).

New Zealand’s All Whites … to face Belgium, Egypt and Iran at the FIFA Men’s World Cup. Photo credit: OFC Media / Phototek.

This story was first published on December 6, 2025.

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