Group G of the 2026 World Cup will be surrounded by tension. Not because it is the Group of Death or anything like that, but because it hosts the Iranian team — which faces Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
With the US military offensive on Iranian territory, the Middle Eastern country threatened not to compete in the competition.
Iran sent some demands to FIFA. Among them, increased security at airports and journalists asking questions only about football.
Favorites in the group, Belgium takes to the USA a mix of old-new-generation Belgians, such as Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne, and some young talents, such as the skillful and fast Doku, Manchester City striker.
Another name that stood out in the Premier League (not exactly last season) is Egyptian Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), who is trying to shine in a World Cup. In 2018, he arrived injured and played limited.
The World Cup will also see the return of New Zealand after FIFA gave a place (and not half) to Oceania. The main name in the rugby country is striker Chris Wood, from Nottingham Forest.
Group G will have two games in Vancouver, both with the New Zealanders.
Long before the draw, unofficially, the city of Seattle chose the match between June 26th and 27th as the “pride match” (the LGBTQIA+ Pride match). Interestingly, the teams drawn for the duel were Iran and Egypt, countries that discriminate against gays.
