Group G Standings: Belgium and Iran Stalemate, Egypt Take Control with Win
After the third round of Group G, Belgium drew 0-0 with Iran, while Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1. Egypt top the group with 5 points, Belgium have 4, Iran 3, and New Zealand 2. The final round sees Egypt vs Iran and Belgium vs New Zealand.
Group G's third round left the qualification race wide open. At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Belgium and Iran played out a drab 0-0 draw, while Egypt defeated New Zealand 3-1 at BC Place in Vancouver, shaking up the standings.
The Belgium-Iran match was a defensive stalemate. Belgium dominated possession with 65%, but Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku couldn't break through Iran's compact defense. Iran held firm to earn a valuable point.
In the other match, Egypt cruised to a 3-1 victory over New Zealand, with Mohamed Salah providing a goal and an assist, and striker Mohamed Sherif scoring twice. Chris Wood scored a consolation goal for New Zealand.
The standings now show Egypt top with 5 points (1W, 2D), Belgium second with 4 points (1W, 1D, 1L), Iran third with 3 points (3D), and New Zealand bottom with 2 points (2D, 1L). The final round will decide the qualifiers.
In the last round, Egypt face Iran at Lumen Field in Seattle, while Belgium take on New Zealand at BC Place in Vancouver. Egypt need only a draw to advance, while Iran must win. Belgium also cannot afford to slip up against New Zealand.
On paper, Egypt vs Iran promises to be a tight contest. Iran's defense has been impressive, conceding just one goal in three matches. Egypt's attack, led by Salah, is growing in confidence. Belgium are favorites against New Zealand, but the All Whites could spring a surprise.
Group G's drama will go down to the wire. Check our matches page for kickoff times and teams for squad details. This is a fan-made site and not affiliated with FIFA.