New Zealand’s head coach, Darren Bazeley, has stressed that his team remains just one victory away from scripting a historic moment at the 2026 World Cup. A win on Friday would secure the All Whites a spot in the knockout stages. “We recognize we must beat Belgium now,” Bazeley emphasized during a press briefing.

“There’s still one game left. Belgium is a strong side, but if we can replicate the intensity we showed against Iran and Egypt, we have a real chance. We know our task—we must beat Belgium,” he added.

Reflecting on the narrow defeat to Egypt, Bazeley admitted disappointment. “That was a match we could have won. It’s painful not to come out on top. We were dominant in the first half, controlling possession and playing comfortably. In the second half, we struggled to maintain our rhythm and quality. Egypt raised their game, and while they played well, it’s deeply frustrating.”

“We were content at halftime, but we didn’t get ahead of ourselves. We faced challenges on set pieces and quick transitions,” he continued, “until Egypt turned the game around. The feeling in the camp is one of disappointment and frustration. It’s tough watching another team celebrate on the pitch. We took the lead in both of our first two matches and created chances—we just need to finish them off. Anything can happen when the scoreline is tight.”