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The teams standing between the All Whites and history at the Fifa World Cup
The All Whites are heading into their third Football World Cup with a clear objective: to reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Ranked as the lowest side in the 48-team tournament, New Zealand know the challenge in Group G is steep, but they believe they are better placed than ever to make a breakthrough after a year-long build-up and a squad featuring more players in top overseas leagues than previous campaigns.
In 2010, their last World Cup appearance, the All Whites exited the group stage but finished unbeaten with draws against Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay in South Africa. This time, there is a growing expectation they can turn performances into results that carry them into the new round of 32.
Experienced midfielder Marko Stamenic said the squad believes it has what it takes to make history.
“I have full belief that as a team that we can do it.
“We’ve shown our quality and we’ve shown that against top nations that we are capable to compete and perform really well against them.
“I think we’ve demonstrated our quality on a big stage against a big opponent so I know we have all the ingredients to do that and to get out of the group stages. I know all the boys have the same belief as I do as well.”
To do that, they will need to navigate a demanding Group G draw, which also features Belgium, Egypt and Iran. The All Whites open their campaign against Iran on 16 June at 1pm, shortly after Belgium face Egypt in the group’s first match at 7am.
Group G matches will be played across two of the co-host nations, the United States and Canada.
Iran – Team Melli
Iran’s captain and defender Ehsan Hajsafi and teammates walk on the tarmac on arrival at the Tijuana International Airport in Tijuana, Mexico. Photo: GUILLERMO ARIAS
World ranking: 20
Best finish: Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Iran’s lead in to their seventh World Cup appearance has been hampered by off-field issues beyond the team’s control.
A lot of focus since February has been on whether Team Melli would compete and the World Cup and where they would play matches and be based throughout the tournament.
Fifa would not budge on moving Iran’s games from Los Angles and Seattle but Team Melli’s base will be in Tijuana, Mexico after a late decision to shift from their original base in Arizona was approved.
Iran drew twice with fellow World Cup 2026 qualifiers Uzbekistan in the process of finishing top of their group in the third round of AFC preliminaries to secure their place in North America.
Players and team officials were eventually granted visas to enter the United States 10 days before their first game of the World Cup against New Zealand on 16 June.
Team Melli has had limited build up to the World Cup after Iran-based players have been unable to play competitive football due to the domestic league being suspended in late February.
Iran have played Group G opponents New Zealand and Egypt before but the last time was more than two decades ago.
In the last three months Team Melli have had wins over Costa Rica, The Gambia and Mali and despite the external issues around the team’s preparation for the World Cup Iran are on a winning streak that they hope transfers to the World Cup where of Iran’s previous 18 World Cup outings ended in defeat.
Player to watch: Mehdi Taremi
The striker who plays his club football with Olympiacos in Greece is the only Iranian to score more than one goal at a World Cup.
Taremi has been to two previous World Cups, in 2018 and 2022, and scored twice against England in a 6-2 loss in their first group game at the last tournament in Qatar.
The team will put a lot of pressure on Taremi in North America to be their goal-scoring outlet as well as the player who links the play.
What the Fifa president said: Fifa president Gianni Infantino told AFP in March: “Iran will be at the World Cup… we’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy.
“I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine.”
Egypt – The Pharaohs
Mohamed Salah of Egypt controls the ball. Photo: KIRK IRWIN
World ranking: 29
Best finish at a World Cup: First round / Group stage (1934, 1990, 2018)
This year’s tournament will be Egypt’s fourth World Cup appearance.
Egypt missed qualifying for Qatar 2022 but got back on the global stage by finishing top of their qualification group in the CAF pathway with eight wins and two draws.
The team switched coach part way through the qualification process and under new coach and Egypt’s all-time top scorer Hossam Hassan became known for their solid defence coupled with goals from experienced internationals.
For the 2026 World Cup Egypt’s team base will be in Spokane, Washington.
Egypt have played all of their Group G opponents before, outside of World Cups, including three times against the All Whites for two wins and a draw. The last time New Zealand played The Pharaohs was in 2024 in Cairo for a 1-0 result to the hosts.
After missing the podium at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Egypt bounced back to be undefeated against Saudi Arabia, Spain and Russia in international friendlies but lost a World Cup warm-up against Brazil 2-1 last week.
Like the All Whites, Egypt are yet to win a game at a World Cup.
Player to watch: Mohamed Salah
Salah has had a troubled club season with Liverpool in the English Premier League after falling out with the coach and wanting to end his contract early but he will still be key to Egypt’s World Cup campaign.
The 33-year-old right winger officially became a free agent on the eve of the World Cup after nine seasons with Liverpool and will be using the tournament to showcase his value to suitors.
Salah scored nine of Egypt’s 20 goals during the qualifying stage for this year’s World Cup and despite battling injury at the 2018 World Cup scored The Pharaohs only goals at that tournament.
Egypt also has the fourth youngest player at the tournament 18-year-old centre-forward Hamza Abdelkarim who plays with Barcelona’s under 19 team.
What the goalkeeper said: Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy told Fifa: “As far as I’m concerned, I’m dead-set on going all the way at the World Cup. It will certainly be difficult, but my own objective and ambition is to win the tournament.
“First and foremost, though – on a team level and for me personally, with this being my second World Cup – I’m fully aware of the quality of the teams who will be there. We are talking among ourselves and pursuing our ambitions step by step, starting with getting through the first round. So if you ask me what my dream is, I’ll say it’s to lift the World Cup.”
Belgium – The Red Devils
Belgium’s midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is congratulated by teammates. Photo: JOHN THYS
World ranking: 9
Best finish at a World Cup: Third, 2018
This year’s tournament will be Belgium’s 15th World Cup appearance and the country’s fourth straight time qualifying for the showpiece event.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Red Devils were knocked out at the group stage for the first time since the 1980s and have ambitions to finish higher in North America.
For the 2026 World Cup Belgium’s team base will be in Seattle, Washington.
Of all of their Group G opponents, Belgium have only ever played Egypt before, for one win and three losses.
Belgium are in good form coming into the World Cup after being undefeated during qualifying through UEFA and in five matches played so far this year have not lost.
As the highest ranked team in the group, Belgium will be expected to be in the top two teams that automatically progress to the new round of 32 at the World Cup.
Player to watch: Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne is the sixth most-capped Belgian men’s player ever and the Napoli midfielder was the country’s leading goalscorer during qualification for the World Cup.
For all of his goals, the player who first played at a World Cup in 2014, is also known for his ability to set-up his teammates in front of goal.
At 34-years-old De Bruyne is one of the older and more experienced players in the squad and has taken on official and unofficial leadership roles.
Another Napoli player, striker Romelu Lukaku, has had an injury interrupted club season but is Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer and has been included in the 26-man squad even if he can only play limited minutes.
What the coach said: Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said when the squad was announced: “The concept of team spirit was important; we needed to stick with a squad that had performed well in the qualifiers, taking into account how the players complement each other and striking a balance between experience and youth.
“This squad is built around playing well and getting on well together. We need to distinguish between our objective and our ambition. Ambition knows no bounds; we all dream of going all the way.
“The objective is simply to finish top of the group and progress from the group stage; we’ll then see who we’re drawn against in the next rounds. We’re not favourites, but I prefer this underdog position, which doesn’t stand in the way of ambition.”
rnz
The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
rnz
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