As the 2026 FIFA World Cup rolls on, Group G stands out for featuring a clear favorite to win the group, while the remaining teams possess enough talent and unpredictability to make the race for qualification an exciting one.

The group consists of Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand, and will play its matches exclusively in Seattle, Los Angeles and Vancouver. The action began Monday when Belgium drew with Egypt 1-1 at Lumen Field in Seattle, while Iran and New Zealand played to a thrilling 2-2 tie at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Belgium

Belgium, unbeaten in its last 14 matches, is the clear favorite in Group G. Sitting at -185 odds to win the group at the time of publication, the Red Devils enter the tournament with a veteran core led by Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, while still benefiting from the pace and creativity of younger stars such as Jérémy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere.

Ranked No. 10 in the FIFA men’s world ranking as of Wednesday, Belgium is led by head coach Rudi Garcia, who echoed the ability and possible reach of his team this tournament. “We’re very driven, we’re aiming high and our squad is capable of achieving great things,” Garcia said in a press conference.

Egypt

After missing qualification and failing to advance from the group stage at the 2018 Russia World Cup, Egypt enters the tournament ranked No. 29 with an impressive qualifying campaign, finishing unbeaten and securing a World Cup spot with a match still to go.

The Pharaohs scored 19 goals in nine qualifiers while conceding only two, establishing themselves as one of Africa’s most defensively in-tune teams.

Much of the team’s hopes this year rest on the shoulders of the king of Egyptian football, Mohamed Salah, who scored nine goals during qualifying and remains the primary attacking threat for the Pharaohs.

Turning 34 years old at the beginning of the tournament, this marks one of Salah’s final opportunities to leave his legacy on football’s greatest stage. Despite Egypt’s strong qualifying campaign, Salah recognized the road to the knockout stage will not be easy.

“It’s a tough group; everybody has a chance, so we will give it our best and hopefully we can go far,” Salah said to ESPN.

The men are coached by former Egyptian striker and all-time goal scorer Hossam Hassan, and are hungry to make a greater push this time around.

Iran

Ranked No. 24 in the world, Iran enters the 2026 World Cup as one of the strongest teams in the group and a serious contender to advance to the knockout stage. Led by striker Mehdi Taremi, the team will look to build on its recent consistency in international competition and challenge Belgium for the top spot in the group.

However, Iran’s preparation has been shaped by unusual circumstances due to world events. The squad has been based in Tijuana, Mexico, and will travel into the United States the day before matchdays before returning immediately afterward.

A series of visa complications and logistical restrictions have disrupted specific portions of the team’s staff, adding a layer of uncertainty ahead of matchday. Taremi acknowledged the difficulties surrounding the team and current geopolitical situation with one of the host countries, the United States.

“There’s a lot of tension right now in this World Cup. You feel it in the atmosphere unfortunately,” Taremi said to ESPN.

New Zealand

Making its third World Cup appearance and first since South Africa 2010, the New Zealand national team is looking to spark some magic.

Beginning at the bottom of Group G, ranked No. 82 in the world, the All Whites enter as clear underdogs, but head coach Darren Bazeley has pointed to the team’s history, as many of the players grew up playing together in school, clubs, national teams and some in the Olympic Games.

“This shared history has strengthened the bonds between them with the coaching staff. This cohesion is a great strength when we compete against top-level teams,” Bazeley said to Inside FIFA.

Group G match schedule:

Monday:

Belgium vs. Egypt at 12 p.m. PT in Seattle, Washington

Iran vs. New Zealand at 6 p.m. PT in Inglewood, California

June 21:

Belgium vs. Iran at 12 p.m. PT in Inglewood, California

New Zealand vs. Egypt at 6 p.m. PT in Vancouver, Canada

June 26:

New Zealand vs. Belgium at 8 p.m. PT in Vancouver, Canada

Egypt vs. Iran at 8 p.m. PT in Seattle, Washington