World Cup Guide: everything you need to know about Group G | OneFootball

The World Cup is almost here! With the countdown inching ever closer to zero, Playmaker is stepping up to present the 48 participating teams across 12 articles - one for each group in the competition. From likely starting XIs to the key players to watch, we've got everything you need to know ahead of the biggest competition in world football.

The Pacific coast will host the six Group G matches. Seattle, Inglewood (Los Angeles) and Vancouver will decide the fate of a quartet made up of one European side, one from Africa, one from Asia and one from Oceania. 

There is no getting away from it: the clear favourites in this group are Belgium. A side of delayed promise, yes, but one still capable of making their fans dream. The bronze medal in 2018, still under Roberto Martínez, calls for at least an equally strong response - in 2022, the team did not even get out of the group stage. 

Rudi Garcia no longer has the untouchable talent of Eden Hazard, but Courtois, Witsel, De Bruyne and Lukaku are a quartet of musketeers worthy of the deposed D'Artagnan. 

What should we expect from the rest of the trio? On paper, Egypt are ahead of the Iranians and the New Zealanders. Naturally because of Mo Salah, but also thanks to striker Omar Marmoush, sharpened by Pep Guardiola over the last two years. The Egyptians have not gone beyond the group stage at a World Cup since... 1934 - when the tournament switched straight to knockout matches. 

And New Zealand Much like their beautiful homeland, they remain something of a mystery. Ten of the 26 Kiwi call-ups play in the domestic league, and of the other 16 names only giant Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) and goalkeeper Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdansk) play for clubs of any real European standing. The aim is simple: to reach the group stage for the third time - after the setbacks of 1982 and 2010. 

The Iran national side, with all the geopolitical complexity surrounding it, will be one of the tournament's attractions. What answer will Taremi and co. be able to give under such intense media pressure

Belgium

Number of appearances: 14

Best finish: 3rd place (2018)

What is the ceiling for Belgium? The more pessimistic observers point to the third place achieved in 2018. Hazard's team were beaten only by neighbours France, and Roberto Martínez was elevated to miracle-maker status – football is fertile ground for exaggeration.

That brilliant side still has some major names left. Thibaut Courtois in goal, Axel Witsel at the back, Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans in midfield, Romelu Lukaku up front.

The team will grow around them, especially De Bruyne, although the younger talent is no less exciting. 

This will not be the greatest generation ever – that still belongs to the 1986 and 2018 crops – although the competitive edge is on a par with its predecessors. In their last ten matches, the Red Devils recorded six wins (including a 5-2 against the USA) and four draws, despite all the talk of transition and modest expectations.

The coach - Rudi Garcia

It has been 15 years since the title he won with Lille. A surprise title, at that. Garcia has never managed to repeat that feat, even after spells at ambitious clubs: Roma, Marseille, Lyon, Al-Nassr and Napoli. Far from being a universally admired name, Garcia is at least a coach respected by the squad, for his accumulated experience and the discipline he demands. The real question is what direct impact he will have on results. 

The star - Kevin De Bruyne

After bringing his golden Manchester City decade to a close (422 matches/108 goals), De Bruyne moved to Naples, home of Maradona worship. The season did not go well for him, largely because of his incompatibility with Antonio Conte's ideas and an injury suffered in October. His fourth World Cup looks likely to be his farewell one too, one of everything-or-nothing. 

One to watch - Joaquin Seys

At 21, and already with 95 games for Club Brugge, Joaquin Seys is a left-back on the rise and establishing himself in Belgian football. In the national team, the regular starter will be Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton), and Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt) can also play there, although he is primarily a centre-back. On the face of it, Seys will have little space at the 2026 World Cup. One opportunity could change everything. 

Other key players: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Zeno Debast (Sporting), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) and Romelu Lukaku (Napoli).

New Zealand

Number of appearances: 2

Best finish: Group stage (1982 and 2010)

For the third time in history, football is set to steal the media spotlight from rugby in New Zealand. Courtesy of the 2026 World Cup, of course. After qualifying for Spain 82 (three defeats) and South Africa 2010 (three draws), Darren Bazeley's side will be looking for their first-ever win.

Currently 85th in the FIFA rankings, the Kiwi side arrives buoyed by a recent 4-1 win over Chile in the FIFA Series and by clear signs of competitive growth. Their trademark remains the same: good organisation and exemplary attitude. Perhaps now seasoned with the talent of two interesting midfielders: Joe Bell and Marko Stamenic.

Anything that involves winning a match and/or reaching the group stage will be a resounding success. 

The coach - Darren Bazeley

A footballer of modest standing in England featuring former Watford and Wolves, Darren Bazeley then ended his playing days in New Zealand and began his coaching career there in 2013. After spells with the under-17s, under-20s and Olympic sides, he was given the chance to lead the senior team. 

The star - Chris Wood

Record holder for caps and goals, Wood is New Zealand's most respected player. He has been in England since the age of 18 and brings that competitive edge to his national side. His 45 goals in 87 matches (a strike rate above 0.5 goals per game) prove that we are dealing with a true number 9, a penalty-box predator, excellent in the air and resourceful at ground level. 

One to watch - Sarpreet Singh

Signed by Bayern in 2019, Sarpreet Singh managed to make two appearances for the first team. Those are the best proof of an innate talent for the number 10 role. In 24/25 he played in Portugal with União de Leiria. He returned to New Zealand after a spell in Serbian football, and heads to North America as the squad's leading technician. 

Other key players: Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Liberato Cacace (Wrexham), Joe Bell (Viking), Marko Stamenic (Swansea), Ryan Thomas (Zwolle) and Ben Old (Saint-Étienne).

Egypt

Number of appearances: 3

Best finish: Round of 16 (1934)

Their authority on African soil, reflected in seven Africa Cup of Nations titles, has never quite translated to a World Cup. Will this be the time?

The last few years have seen a decline for Egpyt. In Africa, the Pharaohs have not ruled since 2010 and were only fourth in 2025, even with the enviable leadership and brilliance of Mo Salah. At 33 and out of contract at Liverpool, the forward is hoping to enjoy the best month of his life on North American soil. This is the real test, the stage of giants, and Salah is there in his own right. Will he have the team to match him

In their three previous appearances, Egypt never won a match. That will be one of the targets; they came close in 1990, led by the genius of Magdi Abdelghani, the Pharaoh of Aveiro. The other is more individual, as Salah is two goals away from becoming Egypt's all-time top scorer. 

To do that, he will have to overtake Hossam Hassan, former striker and current national coach. One of the great figures, in fact, of the Italy 90 side. 

The coach - Hossam Hassan

Hossam and Ibrahim, inseparable. The first is the coach, the second is the federation director responsible for supporting him. Twins, the Hassans appeared on the same World Cup 1990 sticker album page and built the vast majority of their careers side by side, both in Egypt (Al Ahly) and in Europe (PAOK and Neuchâtel Xamax). 36 years later, they are once again representing the nation of the Alexandria Lighthouse at a World Cup. Siamese. 

The star - Mohamed Salah

Unavoidable. And uncontainable. The best Egyptian footballer of all time and one of Africa's finest, Mo Salah is the undisputed leader and leads by example. Nine seasons at Anfield Road have helped elevate him to near-sacred status, but he still needs a major World Cup to complete the picture. From Cairo to Port Said, from Alexandria to Luxor, an entire country at Mo's feet. 

One to watch - Hamza Abdelkarim

A forward for Barcelona's under-19s, the youngster Abdelkarim convinced Hossam Hassan to take him to the World Cup. He made his senior debut on 28 May against Russia, and will have the chance to show that the sparkle he displayed at the 2025 under-17 World Cup was not a one-off. Promising. He is not a likely starter, but a lively option to bring off the bench at any time. With the quality stamp of La Masia. 

Other key players: Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Zizo (Al-Ahly), Trezeguet (Al-Ahly) and Omar Marmoush (Manchester City).

Iran

Number of appearances: 6

Best finish: Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022)

The conflict in the Middle East has not kept Iran out of the World Cup co-hosted by its aggressor. Surprising. But under what conditions will the team be able to compete, knowing that all the talk will revolve around missiles, explosions and the Strait of Hormuz, rather than highlighting the quality of Mehdi Taremi and some of the emerging Persian talents 

The football played in 2022 suggests a competitive side keen to keep possession with quality. Taremi will be the brain and the headline act, well supported by the football of Mohammad Mohebi, midfield man at KK Rostov, and the dribbling of Mehdi Ghaedi, the unpredictable winger at Al-Nasr. 

The federation has set up its headquarters in Tijuana, just a few kilometres from the border with San Diego in southern California, and security is heavy. It is in California, as it happens, that Iran will play its three group matches. Perhaps because it is one of the parts of the US most opposed to Trump's worldview. 

The coach - Amir Ghalenoei

Far from being a big media name in Europe, Ghalenoei is respected mainly for his work in the Iranian league. He has won the championship five times and coached the country's biggest clubs: Esteghlal, Sepahan and Tractor. His appointment to the national team in 2023 was the logical result of a steady and serious career at the top level in Iran. After taking the country to the AFC Asian Cup semi-finals in 2023, expectations for the World Cup are lower, not least because of all the off-field issues surrounding the squad. 

The star - Mehdi Taremi

At 33, and naturally in the later stage of his career, Taremi remains Iran's main reference point. His 60 goals in 105 caps put the former FC Porto striker only behind the iconic Ali Daei in the Iranian elite's all-time scoring charts. How useful it would be for boss Ghalenoei to have another one or two Taremis.   

One to watch - Amir Razzaghinia

After standing out at the 2023 under-17 World Cup and establishing himself at Esteghlal, Razzaghinia naturally made it to the senior national team. Just 20, he does not look set to start the World Cup but has already played 90 minutes in the last two warm-up matches against Costa Rica and Gambia. A midfielder of real quality. 

Other key players: Mehdi Ghaedi (Al-Nasr), Ali Alipour (Persepolis FC), Mohammad Mohebi (FK Rostov) and Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor Club).