World Cup 2026 Group G betting preview & team guide
Content Editor at Free Super Tips, Alex was born in the shadow of Old Trafford and is an avid Man Utd fan. After graduating from university he combined his love of football, writing and betting to join FST and now closely follows goings-on in all of the top European leagues.
Belgium’s golden generation may be waning, but their mix of experienced talents and promising prospects makes them heavy favourites to win Group G. Egypt and Iran look to be competing to be next best, with New Zealand seen as rank outsiders.
World Cup 2026 Group G winner betting odds
- Belgium – 4/11
- Egypt – 9/2
- Iran – 6/1
- New Zealand – 20/1
*All odds correct as of 30th May, 2026 on bet365.com
Group G guide
Belgium
Overview
After finishing third at the 2018 World Cup, Belgium were a disappointment in Qatar. They exited the tournament in the group stage, although they were paired with Morocco and Croatia, sides that both made it to the last four. An unbeaten qualifying campaign saw them pip Wales to top spot, and a kind draw should lead to an improved performance.
Strengths
Belgium have plenty of experience, with Thibaut Courtois, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku combining for almost 500 caps. If Be Bruyne and Lukaku can recover from injury-hit seasons at Napoli, then they’ll have an incredible forward line along with Man City’s Jeremy Doku.
Weaknesses
Just seven of their 26-man squad are between 25 and 30, suggesting this may be a tournament too early for some, and one too late for others. While Doku spearheads Belgium’s next generation of attacking talents, they haven’t replaced their star-studded back-four.
Prospects
Belgium have a kind group draw, and Courtois and De Bruyne are the kind of talents that could edge a knockout game or two in Belgium’s favour. However, they haven’t really taken significant steps forward since their last 16 exit at Euro 2024.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Third-place (2018)
Key player: Thibaut Courtois
Rising star: Jeremy Doku
Belgium predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Castagne, Zebast, Theatre, De Cuyper; Onana, Tielemans; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard, Lukaku
Best Bet – Jeremy Doku top team goalscorer at 7/1
With Lukaku struggling to string games together this season, he’s easy to oppose as the odds-on favourite in this market. Only Kevin De Bruyne (6) outscored Doku (5) for Belgium in qualifying, and his recent purple patch suggests he can shine this summer.
Egypt
Overview
This is a final shot at the World Cup for Egypt captain Mo Salah, after he and his side underwhelmed at the 2018 edition. The Pharaohs made the semi-finals at AFCON earlier this year, but their largely domestic-based squad could struggle to impact this tournament.
Strengths
Salah and Omar Marmoush offer Egypt some impressive options in the final third, along with former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet. Their squad is packed with experience, and they have a core of players with tournament experience from earlier this year.
Weaknesses
Egypt have only two players in their preliminary squad under 24, and they’ve included 11 players in their 30s. While their heavyweight forward line is impressive, their midfield will struggle to contribute. The seven players they’ve selected have a combined five international goals.
Prospects
Egypt lost three from three in 2018, having entered the tournament as potential dark horses. Their starting lineup looks like a little short on quality, and the low-scoring approach that took them to the semis in Morocco will be much tougher to replicate at this tournament.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Last 16 (1934)
Key player: Mohamed Salah
Rising star: Hamza Abdelkarim
Egypt predicted lineup (3-4-1-2): El Shenawy; Ibrahim, Abdelmaguid, Rabia; Hany, Attia, Fathi, El Fotouh; Ashour; Salah, Marmoush
Best Bet – Under 5.5 total team goals
Egypt scored nine goals in seven matches at the latest AFCON, and five of those matches finished with fewer than three goals after 90 minutes. With Egypt expected to play four games at most, six goals could be a tall order.
Iran
Overview
Iran return to the World Cup for the sixth time in eight editions, but they do so amid a backdrop of uncertainty. Iranian fans won’t be able to travel to the US to support their side, but two of their three group games are in LA, which has a large Iranian population.
Strengths
Iran’s key man is forward Mehdi Taremi, who has 59 goals in 103 appearances for his country. The former Porto and Inter Milan striker had a strong year with Olympiacos, and he scored twice in their opener against England in Qatar four years ago.
Weaknesses
Sardar Azmoun was removed from the Iranian squad in March, and he’s missing for the World Cup, too, in what is believed to be a politically motivated decision. The forward has 57 goals for his country, and this Iranian squad can’t afford to lose that level of talent.
Prospects
Amid uncertainty, Iran have a chance to record their best ever tournament finish. They’ve never made it past the first round, but that could change this year. If they can finish as runners-up behind Belgium, they face the prospect of a politically charged knockout tie with the USA.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Group Stage (1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Key player: Mehdi Taremi
Rising star: Amirmohammad Razzaghinia
Iran predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Beiranvand; Hardani, Nemati, Khalilzadeh, Mohammadi; Ezatolahi, Ghorbani; Hosseinzadeh, Ghoddos, Mohebi; Taremi
Best Bet – Stage of elimination – Last 32 at evens
With the top three making the next round, Iran should be targeting progression. They picked up their third win at the finals against Wales in 2022, and a clash with New Zealand should see them add to that. Egypt should be evenly matched opponents, offering Iran the chance to make the first knockout round.
New Zealand
Overview
Tournament expansion has helped New Zealand reach the World Cup for just the third time, their first appearance in 16 years. They sealed the OFC qualifying spot by winning all five qualifiers, scoring 29 times. However, the 85th-ranked side closed 2026 with six defeats in seven as they branched out against stronger opposition.
Strengths
Chris Wood is New Zealand’s standout player. The Nottingham Forest forward is his nation’s record scorer, and he’ll become their most-capped player this summer. They will be incredibly reliant on him if they’re going to make any impact at the tournament.
Weaknesses
Wood is New Zealand’s only player within Europe’s top five leagues. After him, Motherwell’s Elijah Just and PEC Zwolle midfielder Ryan Thomas are the All Whites’ top-flight players in major European leagues.
Prospects
New Zealand surprisingly went unbeaten at the 2010 World Cup, drawing all three group games. Matching that feat looks beyond them in this group, and they’re odds-on to finish bottom.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Group Stage (1982, 2010)
Key player: Chris Wood
Rising star: Tyler Bindon
New Zealand predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Crocombe; Payne, Surman, Bindon, De Vries; Stamenic, Bell; Garbett, Singh, Old; Wood
Best Bet – Exact Group Points – 0 at 3/1
New Zealand are rank outsiders in this group, and it’s hard to see them playing spoiler in the same way they did 16 years ago. After securing qualification last year, they went on a run of eight games without a win, losing seven. They’re playing three sides ranked inside the top 30, so back against them securing a point.
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