VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Leandro Trossard scored a pair of goals and Belgium overcame a slow start at the World Cup to advance to the knockout round with a 5-1 victory over New Zealand on Friday night.
With a scoring outburst, Belgium finished atop Group G and will face a third-place finisher on Wednesday in Seattle. The match was played simultaneously to the other group finale in Seattle between Egypt and Iran, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Belgians went into the match a surprising third in their group after opening the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Egypt and a scoreless draw against Iran.
Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also scored for the Belgians, who were eliminated in the group stage in Qatar four years ago after finishing third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Elijah Just scored for New Zealand, which needed to win outright to have a chance at advancing. The All Whites head home without a first-ever World Cup win.
Should Belgium win its knockout round opener, it will face the winner of the match between the United States and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 16.
Trossard came oh-so-close to scoring early in the match, but goal-line technology determined that the ball did not cross the line.
New Zealand defender Finn Surman was called for a handball in the box in the 23rd minute, giving Belgium a penalty kick, but video determined that his arm was in a natural position and play continued.
In a scramble in front of the net, Trossard popped the ball up into the cross bar and it fell into the goal to put Belgium in front in the 28th minute.
It was Belgium’s first goal at the World Cup since Michy Batshuayi’s goal against Canada in the group opener in Qatar in 2022. Belgium’s goal in its 1-1 draw against Egypt in the opener of this tournament was an own goal.
Trossard scored his second early in the second half, striking a rebound off a New Zealand player past goalkeeper Max Crocombe.
De Bruyne added a stunning strike from outside the box in the 66th minute to all but put the game away for Belgium. He celebrated by making a heart with his hands for the sellout Vancouver crowd.
There was a flurry of late goals. Elijah Just’s goal avoided the shutout for New Zealand in the 84th minute, but two minutes later Romelu Lukaku scored on a header for Belgium and blew a kiss to the fans. Saelemaekers scored in stoppage time.
Winger Jérémy Doku started for Belgium after missing Sunday’s scoreless draw with Iran with an illness. He then flew to London for the birth of his son. He had only trained with the team once in seven days.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made his 18th World Cup appearance for Belgium, breaking the mark set by Enzo Scifo.
New Zealand fell 3-1 to Egypt on Sunday in Vancouver, as the Pharaohs won for the first time at a World Cup. The All Whites tied 2-2 with Iran in their group opener.
