Belgium
4-3-3 expected XI
Upcoming
Belgium vs New Zealand — FIFA World Cup 2026
Belgium
BEL
VS
New Zealand
NZL
June 13, 2026
13:00 ET
Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico
Capacity: 49,850
Belgium arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 14 previous appearances, their best result being Third place (2018). New Zealand have 2 appearances on football's biggest stage, with a best finish of Group stage (1982, 2010). Both sides qualified via UEFA Group F winners and OFC-CONMEBOL play-off winners respectively. This is a rare inter-confederation clash: Belgium of Union of European Football Associations against New Zealand of Oceania Football Confederation. Nations from different confederations meet infrequently outside World Cup tournaments.
Expected Lineups & Formation
Projected starting XIs, tactical shapes, and squad depth for Belgium vs New Zealand.
Tactical Formation Diagram
Hover or tap an expected starter to open the full player profile and compare both tactical systems.
Belgium 4-3-3 4-4-2 New Zealand
1 Thibaut Courtois 
2 Timothy Castagne 
4 Wout Faes 
5 Jan Vertonghen 
3 Arthur Theate 
6 Amadou Onana 
8 Youri Tielemans 
10 Kevin De Bruyne 
7 Jérémy Doku 
9 Romelu Lukaku 
11 Leandro Trossard 
1 Stefan Marinovic 
2 Nando Pijnaker 
5 Michael Boxall 
3 Bill Tuiloma 
4 Storm Roux 
6 Joe Bell 
8 Marko Stamenic 
10 Chris Wood 
7 Matthew Garbett 
9 Ben Waine 
11 Eli Just Belgium (4-3-3)
New Zealand (4-4-2)
Belgium
4-3-3 · Coach: Domenico Tedesco · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
New Zealand
4-4-2 · Coach: Darren Bazeley · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
Belgium vs New Zealand — Historic Context & Meeting Record
World Cup pedigree, confederation background, and what this fixture means for both nations.
0 previous meetings at senior international level
Historic first meeting — FIFA World Cup 2026
This is a rare inter-confederation clash: Belgium of Union of European Football Associations against New Zealand of Oceania Football Confederation. Nations from different confederations meet infrequently outside World Cup tournaments. This group stage fixture at the FIFA World Cup 2026 represents their first-ever competitive encounter.
Belgium
ConfederationUnion of European Football Associations
World Cup Apps14
Best ResultThird place (2018)
QualificationUEFA Group F winners
New Zealand
ConfederationOceania Football Confederation
World Cup Apps2
Best ResultGroup stage (1982, 2010)
QualificationOFC-CONMEBOL play-off winners
📍 Venue Fact Sheet — Estadio Akron
Opened2010
SurfaceBermuda grass
Capacity49,850
ArchitectVicente Navarro + Populous
WC 2026 Matches4
Notable Events2011 Pan American Games football final
Notable Matches at This Venue
| Year | Competition | Teams | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Pan American Games Final | Mexico vs Argentina | Mexico 1–0 Argentina |
| 2026 | FIFA World Cup | 4 matches scheduled | TBC |
Team Form & Recent Outings
How Belgium and New Zealand arrive at the World Cup based on their last five competitive fixtures.
Belgium
WDWWD
3W 2D 0L · 18 GF · 6 GA · 1 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-31
D 1-1
31 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Mexico (N)
W 5-2
28 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs United States (A)
W 7-0
18 Nov 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Liechtenstein (H)
D 1-1
15 Nov 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Kazakhstan (A)
W 4-2
13 Oct 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Wales (A)
New Zealand
DLLLW
1W 1D 3L · 6 GF · 8 GA · 0 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-30
W 4-1
30 Mar 2026 · FIFA Series · vs Chile (H)
L 0-2
27 Mar 2026 · FIFA Series · vs Finland (H)
L 0-2
18 Nov 2025 · Friendly · vs Ecuador (N)
L 1-2
15 Nov 2025 · Friendly · vs Colombia (N)
D 1-1
14 Oct 2025 · Friendly · vs Norway (A)
Key Players to Watch
Six individuals who could decide the outcome of Belgium vs New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Belgium
Player to Watch
Romelu Lukaku
89 caps · 4 goals
Captain — 87 caps of experience
A mainstay of the Belgium national team with over 23 caps, Romelu Lukaku brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Loïs Openda
63 caps · 33 goals
Set-piece specialist — 8 direct free-kick goals
Loïs Openda is enjoying a career-best season at RB Leipzig, translating club form into international impact. Domenico Tedesco relies heavily on their creativity in the final third to maintain Belgium's competitive edge.
Kevin De Bruyne
25 caps · 10 goals
Aerial duel winner — 68% success rate
Kevin De Bruyne has been instrumental in Belgium's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
New Zealand
Player to Watch
Chris Wood
50 caps · 30 goals
Most interceptions per 90 in squad
A mainstay of the New Zealand national team with over 20 caps, Chris Wood brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Ben Waine
37 caps · 27 goals
Top scorer in qualifying campaign
Ben Waine has been instrumental in New Zealand's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Kosta Barbarouses
51 caps · 16 goals
Leads squad in chances created
Kosta Barbarouses is enjoying a career-best season at Wellington, translating club form into international impact. Darren Bazeley relies heavily on their creativity in the final third to maintain New Zealand's competitive edge.
Tactical Analysis
A deep dive into how Domenico Tedesco and Darren Bazeley will set their sides up tactically for this FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage clash.
Belgium — 4-3-3
System Overview
A balanced system with width from full-backs and a single pivot shielding the back four.
Attacking Patterns
Belgium's set-piece threat is significant — they scored 12 goals from corners and free-kicks in qualifying.
Defensive Shape
New Zealand uses a high press triggered by opposition goalkeeper touches, forcing long clearances.
New Zealand — 4-4-2
System Overview
A classic flat midfield that prioritises verticality through central channels.
Attacking Patterns
Belgium favours quick transitions within 5 seconds of winning possession — a direct counter-attacking style.
Defensive Shape
New Zealand uses a high press triggered by opposition goalkeeper touches, forcing long clearances.
Key Tactical Battle to Watch
The decisive tactical battle will be Belgium's three-man defence against New Zealand's wide attacking threats. If Domenico Tedesco can neutralise New Zealand's primary creator in central zones, Belgium should control the tempo.
Match Prediction & AI Forecast
Data-driven outlook for Belgium vs New Zealand based on squad depth, recent form, and historical head-to-head trends.
AI Forecast
FavouriteEither side (very close)
Confidence52%
Likely Scorelines1-1 · 2-1 · 1-2
Factors for Belgium
- Both sides are evenly matched in FIFA rankings and squad depth
- Tactical familiarity between Domenico Tedesco and Darren Bazeley from previous encounters
Factors for New Zealand
- Unpredictable World Cup opening-match nerves for both squads
- VAR and refereeing decisions could heavily influence a tight contest
This forecast is generated by an editorial AI model using squad-depth heuristics and confederation strength indices. It is not a betting tip.
This AI-generated forecast is for entertainment and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute betting advice. Always gamble responsibly.
Tickets & Pricing
Secure your seat for Belgium vs New Zealand at Estadio Akron, Guadalajara on June 13, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions — Belgium vs New Zealand
Who is playing in Belgium vs New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Belgium face New Zealand on June 13, 2026 at Estadio Akron. The match features Belgium's 4-3-3 system under head coach Domenico Tedesco against New Zealand's 4-4-2 shape managed by Darren Bazeley.
What time does Belgium vs New Zealand kick off?
Kick-off is scheduled for the local match time shown above. Check your local broadcaster for timezone conversion. FIFA recommends arriving at the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off.
Where is Belgium vs New Zealand being played?
The match takes place at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico. The stadium has a capacity of 49,850 spectators.
How to buy FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets for Belgium vs New Zealand?
Tickets are available through the official FIFA Ticketing portal at fifa.com/tickets. Categories range from $60 (Category 3) to $450+ (Hospitality). Create a FIFA ID and select your preferred seating tier during the sales phase.
What formation will Belgium and New Zealand use?
Belgium typically line up in a 4-3-3 formation under Domenico Tedesco, while New Zealand favour a 4-4-2 system with Darren Bazeley. Expected lineups are listed in the team sheets above.
Who are the key players to watch in Belgium vs New Zealand?
For Belgium, watch Thibaut Courtois in attack. For New Zealand, Stefan Marinovic leads the line. Both teams rely on experienced midfield engines to control tempo.
What TV channel is broadcasting Belgium vs New Zealand?
Broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are held by Fox Sports (USA), TelevisaUnivision (Mexico), TSN (Canada), BBC/ITV (UK), ARD/ZDF (Germany), and beIN Sports (Middle East). Check your local listings for the exact channel in your territory.
Has Belgium ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
Belgium have reached the knockout rounds in some tournaments, with their best ever finish being Third place (2018).
Has New Zealand ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
New Zealand have reached the knockout rounds in some tournaments, with their best ever finish being Group stage (1982, 2010).
All tickets are sold through the official FIFA Ticketing Portal. Create a FIFA ID to purchase Category 1–3 or Hospitality packages. Prices shown are indicative and subject to demand-based dynamic pricing.