VANCOUVER: Belgium topped World Cup Group ‘G’ by thrashing New Zealand 5-1 on Friday while Iran were made to wait to see if they reach the last 32 when they drew 1-1 with Egypt.

The Pharaohs had learned before the game in Seattle that they were qualified due to results elsewhere, but Iran had a goal ruled out in stoppage time for offside, leaving their hopes in the balance as a third-placed team.

Belgium finished above Egypt on goal difference after they both finished with five points from three matches, followed by Iran on three points and New Zealand on one.

Leandro Trossard scored twice for Belgium to dump the Kiwis out of the tournament. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers were also on the scoresheet. Belgium will next face one of the eight best third-placed teams.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia credited his senior players for leading the charge, brushing aside criticism about the team’s veteran core earlier in the tournament.

“This is what the oldies did tonight, quote unquote,” he added. “Now, we haven’t won anything yet but we moved on to the next phase, but thank goodness we had a difference of four goals and that gave us the opportunity to be first of the group …

“We can’t say that we are fully into it but we are growing into it. We’re gaining momentum. We’ll see against whom we will be playing in the round-of-32, but we will relish this first victory.”

In the other Group ‘G’ fixture, Iran were deprived of a certain place in the knockout phase when a goal in stoppage time that would have given them a 2-1 win against Egypt was disallowed.

Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he had scored the crucial winning goal as he slammed into the net after Egyptian defenders failed to clear, but Iranian celebrations were cut short after VAR deemed there was offside.

The final whistle sounded soon afterwards, leaving white-shirted Iranian players sprawled on the turf in disbelief.

With three points, Iran retain hope of qualifying as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

Mehdi Taremi had also hit the bar with a header for Iran in the closing minutes of normal time.

The Pharoahs raced into the lead in the fith minute when Mahmoud Saber stroked home.

Iran fought back and had a golden chance to level five minutes later when Taremi won, but subsequently missed, a penalty. Within minutes Ramin Rezaeian scored from a tight angle to bring the teams level.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei bemoaning his side’s luck after a third consecutive draw.

“Over these three matches, we did not get the reward for our efforts,” Iranian state media reported him as saying. “Footballing justice was not on our side.”

Mohamed Salah was removed in the 57th minute, looking decidedly unhappy as he exited to make way for Zizo but the former Liverpool legend will no doubt have a role to play when Egypt face Australia in the next round.

“It’s something unbelievable, I think it’s history,” Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, who saved Taremi’s early penalty, said. “We will celebrate tonight and then starting from tomorrow we are going to start watching Australia.”

Iran coach Ghalenoei also criticized travel restrictions imposed on the team by the United States.

“The host country treated us very unfairly,” Ghalenoei told reporters after the match. “Had the host nation allowed us to arrive two weeks earlier, to be more prepared … we would have been in better shape, physically, mentally. However, they deprived us of that justice.”

“I used to think that we were really a totally oppressed team, but after these three games, I have noticed that we also have bad luck as well,” he said.

“I urge FIFA: don’t let hosts treat players and teams the same way in future World Cups.”

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2026