👀 Who goes through? What to expect from Groups G and H at the World Cup | OneFootball

The countdown is coming to an END, and the 2026 World Cup is getting closer and closer.

The ball starts rolling on Thursday (11). And today you’ll get to know a little more about Groups G and H.

Group G features Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand. And Group H has Spain, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Uruguay. 

The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams will advance to the preliminary round of 32.

Preview of Groups A and B

Preview of Groups C and D

Preview of Groups E and F

Will Belgium, Egypt, Spain and Uruguay live up to the hype, or will the underdogs spring a surprise? Leave your PREDICTION!

Group G

🇧🇪 Belgium

🇪🇬 Egypt

🇮🇷 Iran

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Match schedule

June 15, Monday, 4pm - Belgium vs Egypt

June 15, Monday, 10pm - Iran vs New Zealand

June 21, Sunday, 4pm - Belgium vs Iran

June 21, Sunday, 10pm - New Zealand vs Egypt

June 27, Saturday, 12am - Egypt vs Iran

June 27, Saturday, 12am - New Zealand vs Belgium

Belgium 🇧🇪

Belgium’s famous “golden generation” is coming to an end, and the team coached by Rudi Garcia is in a period of TRANSITION.

Belgium still has veterans such as Courtois (34), De Bruyne (34) and Lukaku (33). The goalkeeper, for example, is heading to his FOURTH World Cup.

But a few youngsters can freshen up this squad, such as centre-back Debast (22) and forward Doku (24).

Eliminated in the group stage at the last World Cup, Belgium will try to make a deep run, like in 2014 (quarter-finals) and 2018 (third place).

📸 BRUNO FAHY - Belgaimage

Egypt 🇪🇬

Egypt will play in its fourth World Cup (1934, 1990 and 2018) and will be chasing something UNPRECEDENTED: its first-ever win.

To do that, the Egyptian team is banking on Marmoush (Manchester City) and especially Salah (on his way out of Liverpool).

Salah, in fact, could set a curious record. He has 67 goals for Egypt.

The all-time top scorer is Hossam Hassan, with 69 goals and he is... the team’s CURRENT head coach. Will Salah overtake the boss?

Iran 🇮🇷

With the country in the middle of a war with the United States (and with Iraq), the Iranian national team is trying to focus on football.

On the pitch, Amir Ghalenoei is relying on a squad made up mostly of players who play in Iran itself (or in neighboring countries).

There are only four exceptions: Jahanbakhsh (Dender, Belgium), Mohebi (Rostov, Russia), Ksara Taheri (Paysak, Russia)...

And the biggest star of the Iranian team, Mehdi Taremi, formerly of Porto and Inter Milan and now at Olympiacos.

New Zealand 🇳🇿

After losing 4-0 to Haiti in a friendly last Tuesday (2), New Zealand looks like a candidate to be the group’s punching bag.

They have never won a World Cup match (three draws and three defeats) and are bottom of the FIFA ranking among the 48 participants.

In search of at least one win, New Zealand is counting on striker Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest.

The former Leeds and Newcastle man has 45 goals in 87 games for the national team.

Group H

🇪🇸 Spain

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

🇨🇻 Cape Verde

🇺🇾 Uruguay

Match schedule

June 15, Monday, 1pm - Spain vs Cape Verde

June 15, Monday, 7pm - Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay

June 21, Sunday, 1pm - Spain vs Saudi Arabia

June 21, Sunday, 7pm - Uruguay vs Cape Verde

June 26, Friday, 9pm - Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia

June 26, Friday, 9pm - Uruguay vs Spain

Spain 🇪🇸

Spain arrives as one of the big favorites, not least because of its Euro 2024 title and unbeaten qualifying campaign.

Luis de la Fuente’s side has one of the best midfields around (if not THE best), with Rodri, Pedri and Fabian Ruíz.

The big question mark for La Furia is up front. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are in the final stages of recovery.

If the wingers reach 100% fitness for the World Cup, they will be hard to stop. Otherwise, Spain could run into trouble.

📸 JOSE JORDAN - AFP or licensors

Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦

Saudi Arabia had a turbulent cycle, with managerial changes and a HARD-FOUGHT qualification for the World Cup.

Head coach Giorgios Donis has only been in charge of the team for two months.

Of the 26 called up, 25 play in Saudi Arabia. Among them is the team’s standout player, Salem Al-Dawsari of Al-Hilal.

The team’s only “foreign-based” player is right-back Saud Abdulhamid, who plays for Lens in France (and is a starter for Saudi Arabia).

Cape Verde 🇨🇻

Cape Verde is an African country where Portuguese is the official language — which is why it should get support from Brazilians at the World Cup.

The national team is built on a mix of players born in the country itself and children of Cape Verdean parents. Centre-back Roberto Lopes “Pico” is one example.

Born in Ireland, he may never even have thought about representing Cape Verde... until he received a LinkedIn message with an invitation from the federation.

Another “foreigner,” forward Dailon Livramento (born in the Netherlands and currently at Casa Pia), is the team’s BIG star.

Uruguay 🇺🇾

La Celeste heads to the World Cup after a turbulent cycle, with DRAMA involving coach Marcelo Bielsa and his players.

Canobbio, of Fluminense, is one example. He spent quite a while away from the national team after a “tantrum” at the Copa América.

With a slightly lighter atmosphere, Uruguay will try to make a deep run with names well known in Brazilian football.

Besides Canobbio, Rochet (Inter), Varela (Fla) and Arrascaeta (Fla) could also start. The midfielder, however, is a doubt due to injury.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV - AFP or licensors