FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G betting guide: Belgium, Egypt, Iran & New Zealand
Group G has Belgium as the clear market leader, but the race for second place is genuinely open. Egypt arrive with Mohamed Salah — possibly the most recognisable player in the group — backed by Omar Marmoush, who had a breakout season in European football. Iran have Mehdi Taremi at Inter Milan and a defensive record that has frustrated better teams. New Zealand are the outsiders, but Chris Wood gives them a goal threat in every game. This World Cup 2026 Group G betting guide — part of our full World Cup 2026 betting guide — covers every fixture, the winner odds, and where the value sits for Singapore bettors.
Bet on Group G at sureWin →Group G at a glance
The 2026 World Cup runs with 48 teams across the US, Mexico, and Canada. Each group has four teams; the top two advance to the Round of 32. Group G games are played on the west coast of North America — Seattle, Los Angeles, and Vancouver — across 11 days.
Group G full schedule (SGT)
| Date (SGT) | Match | Kick-off (SGT) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 16 Jun 2026 | Belgium vs Egypt | 03:00 | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Tue 16 Jun 2026 | Iran vs New Zealand | 09:00 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Mon 22 Jun 2026 | Belgium vs Iran | 03:00 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Mon 22 Jun 2026 | New Zealand vs Egypt | 09:00 | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Sat 27 Jun 2026 | Egypt vs Iran | 11:00 | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Sat 27 Jun 2026 | New Zealand vs Belgium | 11:00 | BC Place, Vancouver |
Belgium vs Egypt at 03:00 SGT on 16 June is an early morning start — the Salah vs De Bruyne matchup that the group stage deserves, at a difficult viewing time. Iran vs New Zealand at 09:00 SGT the same morning is far more manageable. The final matchday on 27 June has Egypt vs Iran and New Zealand vs Belgium simultaneously at 11:00 SGT — one of the best viewing windows of the entire final matchday round. Set your live bets before then on sureWin.
Group G winner odds and qualification chances
| Team | Group winner odds (decimal) | Advance to R32 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 1.40 | ~90% |
| Egypt | 5.50 | ~60% |
| Iran | 6.50 | ~50% |
| New Zealand | 21.00 | ~20% |
Belgium at 1.40 is one of the shorter group-winner prices in the tournament. The more interesting number is the gap between Egypt at 5.50 and Iran at 6.50 — the market is almost calling it even between them for second place, which opens up angles on both sides. The Belgium vs Egypt game at 03:00 SGT on 16 June is effectively the Group G decider. If Egypt get a result there, this group becomes genuinely competitive from Matchday 2.
Team by team
Belgium
Rudi Garcia's Belgium are carrying the veterans of the golden generation into one final tournament. Kevin De Bruyne is 35 and still capable of the kind of passing and vision that makes him one of the best players to have touched a ball. Thibaut Courtois returns in goal at his fourth tournament. Romelu Lukaku is 33 and has had a season disrupted by injuries at Napoli — he played seven matches and scored once. The player who could most change games in this group is Jérémy Doku at Manchester City, whose pace and one-on-one ability in wide positions is at its peak right now.
Belgium at 1.40 is thin as a standalone bet. The smarter structure is Belgium to qualify at a shorter price combined with a Doku-related individual market — first shot on target or first goalscorer — in the Egypt opener at 03:00 SGT on 16 June. De Bruyne's passing makes Doku dangerous in every game he starts.
Egypt
Egypt's World Cup campaign begins and ends with Mohamed Salah. At 34, he is at his final tournament and arrives having had another exceptional Liverpool season. Omar Marmoush, who made his name at Eintracht Frankfurt before his move to Manchester City, provides a different kind of attacking threat — quicker to the ball and stronger in tight spaces than Salah. Egypt's challenge is always the same at World Cups: building enough defensive solidity around the attacking quality to stay in games long enough for Salah to decide them.
Egypt at 5.50 to win the group is a fair price but not compelling. The targeted bet is Egypt to qualify, plus Salah first goalscorer in the New Zealand match at 09:00 SGT on 22 June. That game is Egypt's best chance for a comfortable result and Salah's form in group-stage openers has been consistent across his international career.
Iran
Iran have Mehdi Taremi at Inter Milan — one of the better strikers in Serie A over the past two seasons and a player capable of scoring against anyone on his day. Iran's strength is defensive organisation; they are difficult to break down and will frustrate Egypt and Belgium in the group phase. Their 2022 campaign — which included a famous win over Wales — showed they can compete when properly set up. The challenge for this squad is converting their defensive solidity into enough attacking moments to take second place ahead of Egypt.
Iran at 6.50 to win the group is a long shot. The more interesting market is Iran in the Egypt vs Iran game at 11:00 SGT on 27 June — a noon Saturday slot that is the best viewing time of the group. If both teams need a result at that point, expect goals. Both teams to score in that match is worth examining at whatever odds sureWin has available.
New Zealand
New Zealand qualified through the OFC playoffs and arrive as the group's longest shot. Chris Wood at Nottingham Forest is their most reliable goal threat — a physical striker who can hold the ball up and convert chances. Tommy Smith is one of two players alongside Wood who have appeared at multiple World Cups for the All Whites. New Zealand's 2022 tournament gave them experience at this stage; the squad is slightly better for it.
New Zealand's best market is their opening game against Iran at 09:00 SGT on 16 June. Iran are not the most fluent attacking team in the draw, and New Zealand are organised at the back. Iran -1 Asian handicap or both teams to score are the angles worth checking, rather than the result market where New Zealand face long odds in every fixture.
Group G predictions
Belgium win the group. De Bruyne and Doku with a fit supporting cast is too much for Egypt and Iran at this level. The interesting question is Matchday 1: Belgium vs Egypt at 03:00 SGT on 16 June shapes everything that follows. A Salah performance there — he tends to show up when the opponent is ranked higher — could make the qualification picture tight.
Second place goes to Egypt. Salah's experience and Marmoush's quality in the final third give them more attacking output than Iran, and their defensive record under the current coaching setup is solid enough to stay in games. The final matchday on 27 June — Egypt vs Iran and New Zealand vs Belgium simultaneously at 11:00 SGT — is the one to have sureWin's live markets open for.
Our selections: Belgium to win Group G (1.40) | Egypt to advance to the Round of 32 | Value pick: Iran to qualify at 6.50.
Bet on Group G at sureWin →Frequently asked questions
Which team is favourite to win Group G at the 2026 World Cup?
Belgium at 1.40 (decimal) under Rudi Garcia. Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, and Jérémy Doku give them quality across every position — this is the last major tournament for the core of the golden generation and they will treat it accordingly. Lukaku's fitness is the only real question mark in their setup.
What time do Group G matches kick off in Singapore (SGT)?
Belgium vs Egypt on 16 June kicks off at 03:00 SGT. Iran vs New Zealand the same morning at 09:00 SGT is far more manageable. On 22 June, games are at 03:00 and 09:00 SGT. The final matchday on 27 June has both games simultaneously at 11:00 SGT — the best same-day double-header time slot in this group for Singapore viewers.
Is Mohamed Salah playing at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Salah is in the Egypt squad and is expected to captain the side. At 34, this is likely his last World Cup appearance. He arrived having had another strong Liverpool season and is Egypt's most dangerous attacking threat in every game — particularly in set-piece situations and on the counter.
How does sureWin compare to Singapore Pools for World Cup betting?
Singapore Pools mostly covers match result and total goals. sureWin has group winner markets, both teams to score, Asian handicap, correct score, first goalscorer, and live in-play with cash-out. For Group G — Doku first goalscorer, Salah first goalscorer, Egypt vs Iran both teams to score — the range at sureWin is considerably broader.
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