Kevin De Bruyne Strikes as Belgium Crush New Zealand to Top Group G

Kevin De Bruyne scored a trademark long-range goal as Belgium delivered a commanding 5-1 victory over New Zealand to secure top spot in Group G and book their place in the World Cup knockout stage.

Leandro Trossard led the charge with a brace, while Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also found the net in a dominant display that underlined Belgium’s return to form after a slow start to the tournament.

Belgium began aggressively in Vancouver, pressing New Zealand high and controlling possession from the opening whistle. Their early pressure paid off in the 28th minute when Trossard capitalized on confusion inside the six-yard box following a corner, bundling the ball home to give Belgium a deserved lead.

After the break, Belgium increased their intensity. Trossard struck again five minutes into the second half, reacting quickly after his initial effort was blocked to volley in at the near post and double the advantage.

The standout moment of the match came in the 66th minute when De Bruyne unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from around 20 yards, drilling the ball into the bottom corner to effectively end New Zealand’s hopes of a comeback.

New Zealand briefly responded through Elijah Just, who pulled one back with a well-taken finish to register his third goal of the tournament. However, Belgium immediately restored their three-goal cushion when Lukaku headed in just seconds after coming off the bench, highlighting the depth of Rudi Garcia’s squad.

Late in stoppage time, Saelemaekers added a fifth goal to complete the rout and further emphasize Belgium’s attacking dominance.

Despite earlier inconsistencies in the group stage, Belgium’s performance suggested a return to their attacking rhythm, with De Bruyne pulling the strings in midfield and Trossard proving clinical in front of goal. The result ensured Belgium finished top of Group G on goal difference, setting up a last-32 knockout tie scheduled for later this week.

For New Zealand, the defeat confirmed their elimination from the tournament after taking just one point from three matches. While they showed moments of resilience, they were ultimately outclassed by a far superior Belgian side.

Belgium will now await confirmation of their next opponent as the knockout stage bracket takes shape, with expectations rising after a performance that finally showcased their attacking quality and tournament ambition.