Belgium broke a 76‑year goal drought when Leandro Trossard struck a half‑volley against New Zealand, giving the Red Devils a 5‑1 win that sealed first place in Group G and a round‑of‑32 berth. After two 0‑0 draws with Egypt and Iran, the win followed a disciplined display that produced 76 shots on target, the group’s highest ever.

Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute, a prodded effort that set the tone. Kevin De Bruyne added a decisive strike five minutes after the break, while Lukaku’s header, just 56 seconds after coming off the bench, and Saelemaekers’ stoppage‑time goal pushed the tally to 5‑1. Elijah Just’s late strike was the only blemish today.

Belgium’s triumph comes after a campaign that saw the once‑top‑ranked side struggle with an aging core. Lukaku, De Bruyne and goalkeeper Courtois have amassed over 2,100 competitive matches, yet injuries and limited starts have hampered their influence. The win signals a potential turning point before the nation’s golden generation fades in the tournament standings and performance levels.

With the Group G title secured, Belgium faces a round‑of‑32 draw in Seattle against an undecided third‑place team. The victory confirms the nation’s return to the World Cup’s upper echelons and sets a clear benchmark for the squad as they prepare to test their mettle against Europe's best in the coming matches and maintain competitive standings.