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Six Matchday 3 results on 26 June closed out Groups G, H and I, and the numbers are emphatic. France finished with a perfect nine points after Ousmane Dembélé scored a hat-trick inside 32 minutes against a rotated Norway; Spain edged Uruguay 1–0; Belgium beat New Zealand 5–1 to win Group G on goal difference; and Cape Verde drew their way into the knockouts to become the smallest country by population ever to reach a men’s World Cup last 32. For New Zealand the day ended the campaign — but it ended with a goal, and with a verdict the numbers make clear.
The Results: Groups G, H & I, Matchday 3
Numbers first. Here is the 26 June ledger — all six scores from FIFA’s Match Centre, ESPN and the Wikipedia per-group pages.
| Match | Group | Score | Key scorer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway vs France | I | 1–4 | Dembélé 7′, 20′, 32′; Doué 90+4′; Aasgaard 21′ (NOR) |
| Senegal vs Iraq | I | 5–0 | Diarra 4′, Sarr 56′, Gueye 59′ & 71′, Ndiaye 82′ |
| Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | H | 0–0 | — |
| Uruguay vs Spain | H | 0–1 | Baena 42′ |
| Egypt vs Iran | G | 1–1 | Saber 5′ (EGY); Rezaeian 14′ (IRN) |
| New Zealand vs Belgium | G | 1–5 | Just 84′ (NZL); Trossard 28′ & 50′, De Bruyne 66′, Lukaku 86′, Saelemaekers 90+4′ |
Scores cross-checked across FIFA Match Centre, ESPN and Wikipedia group pages, as of 27 June 2026. Senegal beat ten-man Iraq, who had Rebin Sulaka sent off (red card, 13′).
The standout was Dembélé. Three goals between the 7th and 32nd minutes made it one of the fastest hat-tricks in World Cup history and a rare first-half treble, and it pushed him level on four tournament goals in the Golden Boot race. France’s stand-in staff — assistant Guy Stéphan led the side, with Didier Deschamps away following a family bereavement — still oversaw the most complete performance of the round.
Who Is Through, Who Is Out
Three groups resolved cleanly. The two automatic places plus the best-third lane all firmed up.
| Group | Winner | Runner-up | Best-third watch | Eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Belgium (5 pts, +4) | Egypt (5 pts, +2) | Iran (3 pts, three draws) | New Zealand |
| H | Spain (7 pts, +5) | Cape Verde (3 pts) | — | Uruguay, Saudi Arabia |
| I | France (9 pts, +8) | Norway (6 pts, +1) | Senegal (3 pts, +2) | Iraq |
Final group tables from the Wikipedia per-group pages, mirrored from FIFA, as of 27 June 2026.
Belgium and Egypt finished level on five points; Belgium took top spot on goal difference courtesy of the five-goal haul against New Zealand. Cape Verde went through unbeaten on three draws — the kind of result that rewrites record books rather than headlines. Iran’s three draws leave them in best-third contention, with their first-ever knockout berth hanging on how the final groups finish tonight.
Group G: Belgium Power Past New Zealand
The All Whites’ final group game was the heaviest scoreline of their three. Leandro Trossard struck twice, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku added to it, and Elijah Just’s 84th-minute strike was a consolation rather than a turning point.
| Group G (final) | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +4 | 5 |
| Egypt | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 5 |
| Iran | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | −6 | 1 |
Group G final standings, Wikipedia Group G, as of 27 June 2026.
A single point and a minus-six goal difference is a hard final line, but it sat in a group where Belgium and Egypt were always the favoured pair. What the campaign actually showed — and where the All Whites go next — is covered in our New Zealand World Cup review.
What It Means for the Market
France’s win reinforced their position as the tournament’s lone clear favourite. The outright board reflects it.
| Outright winner | Odds (decimal) | As of |
|---|---|---|
| France | 4.50 | 27 Jun 2026 |
| Argentina | 6.50 | 27 Jun 2026 |
| Spain | 7.00 | 27 Jun 2026 |
| England | 8.00 | 27 Jun 2026 |
Outright winner odds (OddsPortal aggregate, decimal), as of 27 June 2026. Lines move — confirm with your book before staking.
The more interesting move is behind France: Argentina have shortened to second favourite ahead of a laboured Spain. I track that full shift in our World Cup 2026 winner odds analysis, and Dembélé’s surge into the scoring chart is covered on the evergreen Golden Boot odds page.
- France finished Group I on a perfect nine points; Dembélé’s hat-trick (7′, 20′, 32′) came inside 32 minutes.
- Cape Verde drew 0–0 with Saudi Arabia to reach the knockouts unbeaten — the smallest nation by population ever to do so at a men’s World Cup.
- Belgium beat New Zealand 5–1 to win Group G on goal difference over Egypt; Iran’s three draws keep a best-third hope alive.
- New Zealand are eliminated on one point; Elijah Just scored their only goal of the night.
- France remain the clear outright favourite (4.50) with Argentina now second ahead of Spain.
Odds shown are aggregated decimals as of 27 June 2026 and are for analysis only. Betting carries risk — stake only what you can afford to lose. For New Zealand support, see Responsible Gambling.
