Sports · World Cup 2026 · Group G
New Zealandvs
Egypt
Sunday, June 21, 2026 · 9:00 p.m. ET · BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver
Watch: FS1 · Telemundo
My pick: Egypt win · locked 2026-06-20 09:12 UTCPrediction
Egypt to win, narrowly. Group G is bunched after both sides drew their openers — New Zealand earning a spirited 2-2 against Iran, Egypt held 1-1 by Belgium — and the Pharaohs carry the decisive edge in Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. New Zealand are physical, well-organised and dangerous from Chris Wood's aerial presence, so this should be tight and competitive, but Egypt's quality in the final third should just about tell. 2-1 Egypt.
The case for New Zealand
30% to winNew Zealand showed real fight in coming from behind twice against Iran, with Elijah Just's brace and Chris Wood's hold-up play giving them a clear identity. Darren Bazeley's side defend in numbers, attack the box from set pieces and have nothing to fear; if they match Egypt's intensity and Wood takes his chances, the All Whites can grab the win that would put them on the brink of a first World Cup knockout place.
The case for Egypt
38% to winEgypt have the group's standout talent in Mohamed Salah, with Omar Marmoush offering a second elite threat. Held by Belgium despite a strong showing, the Pharaohs will fancy their attacking quality against a New Zealand side that conceded twice to Iran. Dominating the ball and finding Salah and Marmoush in the channels should yield the goals to take a decisive step toward qualification.
Both cases written 2026-06-20, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 32% belongs to the draw.
New Zealand 4-2-3-14-2-3-1 EgyptThe briefing
Storylines
- Group G is level on points: New Zealand drew 2-2 with Iran, Egypt 1-1 with Belgium, so a win here is hugely valuable.
- Elijah Just scored twice on his World Cup debut against Iran and is expected to keep his place for New Zealand.
- Mohamed Salah, chasing personal milestones, leads an Egypt attack that also features the in-form Omar Marmoush.
- Played under the roof at BC Place in Vancouver, a controlled environment for a late kickoff.
The coaches
Darren Bazeley New Zealand
The English coach has New Zealand organised, hard-working and dangerous from set pieces, built around target man Chris Wood.
Hossam Hassan Egypt
Egypt's combustible record goalscorer turned coach; sets up to get the ball to Salah and Marmoush in attacking areas.
Availability
| Squad | No fresh fitness concerns; Matthew Garbett remains out for the tournament with a hamstring injury, with the side that drew with Iran expected to continue | Sports Mole / Squawka preview · 2026-06-20 |
| Squad | No new injuries after the Belgium draw; Hossam Hassan has a full squad and is expected to keep Marmoush leading the line | Sports Mole preview · 2026-06-20 |
Availability drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Watch: FS1 in English (stream on Fox One with a TV provider) and Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo or Universo (stream on Peacock); check local listings for the Spanish channel on the late kickoff. (NBC News / FOX Sports World Cup TV schedule, as of 2026-06-20)
Weather: Roof at BC Place in Vancouver — a covered stadium, no forecast needed for the late kickoff. (Venue (retractable roof), as of 2026-06-20)
Venue: BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver, Canada — FIFA strips sponsor names for the tournament; the everyday name is in parentheses.