The most balanced four-team group in the tournament
Group G is fully filled with no playoff slot, which already makes it different. Iran, New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt — four teams with wildly different profiles but all with realistic claims to escape the group.
Iran — experienced, disciplined, dangerous
Iran have been at almost every recent World Cup and the core of their squad has grown up playing tournament football together. Mehdi Taremi leads the line, Sardar Azmoun is still scoring goals in Europe, and the defensive structure is always organised. Their 2026 home kit in classic white with a subtle tile-pattern texture is one of the more understated releases.
New Zealand — the emotional story
New Zealand return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 in a group where they have a genuine shot at points. Chris Wood leading the line still at international level, a solid team structure, and the 48-team format rewarding even a single group-stage win. The Nike kit — black home, white away — is subtle but iconic in that All Whites / All Blacks tradition.
Belgium — the transition squad
Belgium’s golden generation is now a post-golden generation. Kevin De Bruyne is 34, Romelu Lukaku is nearing the end, and the question is whether the next wave — Doku, Tielemans, Openda — is ready to carry the weight. The kit is an Adidas release with a bold stripe running diagonally across the chest in gold. Potential dark horses or potential group-stage exit; nobody quite knows which Belgium shows up.
Egypt — the Salah factor
Egypt have Mohamed Salah, the most famous footballer in the entire group by a distance. Whether Salah is fit and sharp at 34 is the entire question. If he is, Egypt are right in the mix to win this group. If he isn’t, they’re fighting for a third-place spot. The Egypt kit is a beautiful white with burgundy chevron — very watchable on camera.
Predicted finish
Belgium top on talent, Egypt second on Salah singlehanded, Iran third, New Zealand fourth. But this is the group I’d least trust a prediction for — Belgium could crash out, Egypt could win it, Iran could go 3-0-0 against three tired European defences. Absolute coin-flip group.
Kit pick of the group
Egypt’s burgundy chevron is gorgeous but Iran’s understated classic is the quiet pick. Belgium’s diagonal-stripe Adidas release is the loud pick. Find all four on the shop page.
Keep reading
If you like the unpredictable groups try the Group of Death analysis. Or back yourself and play Kit Clash to rate every Group G shirt against the field.