Lukaku, 33, also became Belgium’s top scorer at the World Cup with six goals, surpassing Marc Wilmots.
“The result hurts,” New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley said. “I’m proud of the performance and the work-rate. We had to deal with a very good team for very long periods today…
“The experience of this is going to make us better. Next tournament, we’ll be a lot more hardened. It’s a long way off and it hurts right now because we came to get out of the group and we haven’t done that, but we had chances to do it.”
The All Whites’ World Cup campaign ends with a loss to Belgium. Photo / Photosport
‘Belgium have finally arrived’
Sam Drury, BBC Sport
It has taken until the last game of the group stage, but Belgium have finally arrived at this World Cup.
While they may not be the side they once were, with those remaining from that golden generation of 2018 now approaching the end of their careers, more was still expected than what they managed against Egypt and Iran.
The manner in which they dismantled a battling, but ultimately outclassed, New Zealand showed just why.
There was an intensity to their play which had been sorely lacking to this point, and the sharpness of their one-touch passing around the penalty area meant the All Whites were clinging on within just a couple of minutes of kick-off.
‘All Whites head home’
Anne M. Peterson, Associated Press
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.
‘Tamest crowd and dullest atmosphere’
Joshua Kloke and Phil Hay, The Athletic
This was the fifth World Cup match in Vancouver and easily the tamest crowd and dullest atmosphere so far. There was little buzz around the city beforehand.
Australia-Turkey was back and forth, and the Turkish fans were piercingly loud. New Zealand-Egypt was an outpouring of audacious joy when Egyptian fans celebrated their country’s first ever World Cup win.
And the two Canada games? Man. Their second group game against Qatar was a party that rivalled the 2010 Winter Olympics hosted here and during their second match, a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland, the rollicking crowd nearly willed the co-hosts to a draw.
But this? It was telling that three pigeons that flew around inside the stadium easily took people’s eyes off the game at times.
Perhaps part of the reason for the dull crowd were the numbers. Yes, attendance was listed as another sellout at 52,497 but to my eyes, there were more empty seats, easily in the hundreds, compared with the previous four games here. Fifa was contacted for comment.
Maybe this game was a tough sell following the emotional peaks and valleys experienced in Canada’s game. But the swelling balloon that has been the 2026 World Cup in Vancouver was deflated a little on Friday night.
‘Harsh reality’
Michael Burgess, NZ Herald
This was the harsh reality of facing an elite European team. It was a cruel examination on the global stage and one that will hurt for years.
Belgium thoroughly deserved their 5-1 victory – and on another night could have had one or two more. After defending well in the first half – apart from a poor goal – the All Whites completely fell apart in the second, amid a confetti of substitutes.
It means New Zealand’s Fifa World Cup is over, but that was the feeling after the last game here, when they failed to capitalise on a halftime lead against Egypt. Arsenal star Leandro Trossard grabbed two goals – though the first was a gift – before midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne added a long-range bullet after 66 minutes.
Belgium overcame pressure
Joshua Jones, The Sun
Leandro Trossard grabbed two goals before Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku also scored as Belgium topped Group G.
The Red Devils 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.
Belgium began their campaign with draws against both Egypt and Iran.
And the pressure was on to reach the knockout stages, let alone top a relatively weak group.
They did so with a scoring burst.
And as a result, their reward is facing a third-place finisher on Wednesday in Seattle.
New Zealand got it all wrong – until it was too late
Luis Miguel Echengaray, Fox Sports
In the first half, Darren Bazeley’s side had zero shots and only one touch in the box. It only managed 38-40% possession and just couldn’t create anything of value. It improved in the second, but it was too late.
The strategy was also perplexing as it decided to sit back and allow Belgium to keep attacking the box with very little room to counter. It was the equivalent of a boxer asking to be hit with no plans to protect their face.
I always felt that New Zealand’s best asset was its physicality and ability to hit opponents with the counter. It did not succeed in doing any of that tonight. Shout-out, however, to Elijah Just, who had a great tournament with three goals.
In the end, Belgium was too strong, secured the win and finished top of the group. Now, it will have to wait another day to see which team it’ll face in the round of 32 in Seattle on Wednesday.
Belgium masterclass
Marc Dodd, Nine
Belgium were expected to be the likely runners-up of the group along with Iran, but a masterclass 5-1 win over New Zealand saw them rise to the top of the group.
Egypt had a glimpse of hope they could remain the group leaders late in the second half thanks to a goal for New Zealand, but Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku responded fast to ensure his nation would move into first place on the standings.
Go all in to unlock every Fifa World Cup 2026 match with a TVNZ+ Event Pass.