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Arun - June 21, 2026
New Zealand and Egypt meet at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday evening in a Group G fixture that carries real knockout stage implications for both sides. Our New Zealand vs Egypt prediction has the full breakdown.
New Zealand announced themselves at this World Cup with Elijah Just’s brace earning a 2-2 draw against Iran, while Egypt held Belgium to a 1-1 draw thanks to a stunning Emam Ashour strike.
With Belgium and Iran meeting simultaneously in Los Angeles, both sides know that three points here could be enough to seal a spot in the knockout rounds.
Darren Bazeley has no fresh injury concerns after the Iran draw.
The one confirmed absence is Matthew Garbett, who was ruled out of the entire tournament with a hamstring injury on June 15 and has been replaced in the squad by Logan Rogerson.
With Garbett unavailable, Sarpreet Singh is expected to fill the creative number ten role behind Chris Wood.
Elijah Just is the undisputed selection after his two-goal performance against Iran. The winger scored in the seventh and 54th minutes to take his international tally to 11 goals, making him one of only three players in the current squad alongside Wood and Kosta Barbarouses to have reached double figures for New Zealand.
Just starts on the right flank while Chris Wood provided two assists against Iran despite not scoring himself and leads the line once again. The Nottingham Forest striker has 45 international goals and remains central to everything New Zealand do in attack.
Michael Woud continues in goal after a solid display against Iran. The back four is expected to be largely unchanged, with Winston Reid and Nando Pijnaker as the centre-back partnership.
New Zealand are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2010 and have yet to win a match at the tournament, with all four of their World Cup appearances ending in draws across 2010 and now 2026.
A first World Cup win is within reach here against an Egypt side that was largely contained by Belgium.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Michael Woud
Defenders: Alex Greive, Nando Pijnaker, Winston Reid, Tim Payne
Midfield: Clayton Lewis, Ryan Thomas
Attacking mid: Elijah Just, Sarpreet Singh, Ben Waine
Forward: Chris Wood.
Hossam Hassan has no injury or suspension concerns and is expected to name an unchanged side from the Belgium draw. Egypt emerged from the opener with a clean bill of health, giving Hassan a full squad to choose from.
The selection debate centres on whether to persist with the same attacking combination that created chances without converting them against Belgium.
Mohamed Salah is Egypt’s captain and talisman and starts without question. He sits just two goals behind the all-time Egypt international scoring record of 69, held by his own manager Hossam Hassan.
Against Belgium, Salah set up the opening goal but was largely contained by a disciplined defensive structure.
Omar Marmoush wasted several clear opportunities against Belgium but is expected to keep his place as the central striker ahead of Trezeguet, who is a key impact option from the bench.
Emam Ashour scored a fine individual goal against Belgium and keeps his attacking midfield role, with Mostafa Ziko on the opposite flank.
The defensive base of Marwan Attia and Mohanad Lasheen at centre-back provides solidity, with Taher Mohamed Taher and Mahmoud Hamdi as the midfield double pivot.
Mohamed El Shenawy continues in goal. Egypt have never reached the knockout stages since their only World Cup appearances in 1990 and 2018, and Hassan will know that victory here puts them in a commanding position to end that wait.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Mohamed El Shenawy
Defenders: Omar Kamal, Marwan Attia, Mohanad Lasheen, Ahmed Hegazi
Midfield: Taher Mohamed Taher, Mahmoud Hamdi
Attacking mid: Mostafa Ziko, Mohamed Salah, Emam Ashour
Forward: Omar Marmoush.
For all our World Cup 2026 tips and predictions throughout the tournament, head to the hub.
