Belgium finished top of Group G at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a convincing 5-1 victory over New Zealand, while Egypt held on for a dramatic 1-1 draw against Iran to secure their place in the knockout rounds.

Belgium and Egypt both ended the group stage with five points, but the Red Devils claimed first place on goal difference. Egypt finished second, while Iran, with three points, must now wait to see if they can qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. New Zealand were eliminated after losing all hopes of progression.

Belgium went into their final match needing a big win to have any chance of overtaking Egypt at the top of the table, and they delivered in style. The Europeans defeated New Zealand 5-1 to complete a remarkable turnaround after disappointing results in their opening two matches.

In Seattle, Egypt and Iran played out a tense and dramatic encounter that kept fans on edge until the final whistle. Egypt took the lead early on, but Iran quickly responded through Ramin Rezaeian after goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir had saved Mehdi Taremi’s penalty.

The draw appeared enough to send Egypt through, but the Pharaohs were forced to endure a nervy finish. Iran pushed hard for a winner and thought they had found it in stoppage time, only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to rule out the goal for offside.

Iran created several other chances to secure victory but were unable to find the decisive goal that would have guaranteed their place in the last 32.

Egypt also suffered an injury concern after captain Mohamed Salah was substituted in the second half with ice and strapping visible around his left thigh and hamstring, raising fears ahead of the knockout stages.

The final Group G standings saw Belgium finish first with five points, Egypt second with five points, Iran third with three points, and New Zealand at the bottom of the table.

While Belgium and Egypt can now prepare for the knockout rounds, Iran’s World Cup future remains uncertain as they await the outcome of the remaining group-stage matches.

Naomi Osaka’s impressive run at the 2026 Bad Homburg Open ended on a disappointing note after she was forced to retire during the final against Karolina Muchova. The retirement sparked mixed reactions from fans, with some criticizing the decision while others expressed concern over her condition.

Osaka had looked back to her best throughout the week, defeating Magdalena Frech, Elise Mertens, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Wang Xinyu to reach her first final in five years. Standing in her way was an in-form Muchova, who had beaten Irina-Camelia Begu, Clara Tauson, and Elena-Gabriela Ruse to book her place in the title match.

However, the final did not go as planned. Trailing 1-6, 0-1, the former World No. 1 retired after visibly struggling with a foot issue, having also taken a medical timeout during the opening set. Tournament officials did not disclose the exact nature of the injury, with further assessment expected ahead of Wimbledon.

While some fans criticized Naomi Osaka for retiring during the championship match, many others were more concerned about what the injury could mean with Wimbledon just around the corner. One user wrote:

“Auckland 2025 and now Bad Homburg 2026….Her body doesn’t want her to win finals ffs…😭.”

“Expecting to wake up to Naomi ending the title drought but it’s another retirement… i can’t take this no more,” another wrote.

“Man that’s why I hate back to back tournaments, why can’t the tour have a break in between grand slam tournaments to allow players to breathe before a Grand Slam,” one user posted.

“Unbelievable how a professional tennis player can show up to a final and be injured to start the match. Naomi Osaka you should be ASHAMED of yourself. I’m losing thousands of dollars because you are unfit yet still playing,” one user commented.

“This is the worse tennis final ever played. Naomi Osaka you gotta retire from tennis fr fr just go do something like politics or something,” another added.

“I’m sure Xinyu Wang would’ve played a great final against Muchova but Naomi Osaka decided to clown 🤡🤡 f***ing loser,” one account tweeted.

Naomi Osaka apologizes to fans after Bad Homburg Open final retirement

Naomi Osaka made sure to apologize to the fans after being forced to retire during the Bad Homburg Open final against Karolina Muchova. During her runner-up speech, the Japanese thanked the crowd for their support despite the hot conditions and expressed her regret at not being able to finish the match.

Osaka said:

“I just want to say thank you everyone that came to the match. I apologize for not being able to finish, but this atmosphere was incredible throughout the whole week. So, thank you so much, and I hope you’re not too hot.”

The four-time Grand Slam champion then congratulated Muchova on winning the title:

“Also, congratulations, Karolina. You’re one of the coolest girls on tour, and it’s always really fun to play you. So, congratulations for an incredible tournament, and I hope you have the best of luck in Wimbledon as well.”

The Wimbledon draw is already out, with Osaka seeded 14th and scheduled to face Elsa Jacquemot in the opening round. However, it remains unclear whether she will be fit enough to compete after her injury scare.