New Zealand’s head coach Darren Bazeley remained resolute after his side’s latest outing, stressing that victory on Friday would secure their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup 2026. “We know we have to beat Belgium now. That’s the only way forward.”

Reflecting on his team’s performance so far, Bazeley admitted the draw against Iran had been a missed opportunity. “We were dominant in that game—controlled possession, created clear chances, and looked like we could have taken all three points. Against Egypt, we started strong again, but couldn’t maintain the momentum. The Egyptians lifted their game, and we paid the price.”

The coach’s frustration was palpable as he described the 1-1 draw with Egypt. “It was a game we should have won. We dominated the first half, had chances, and then let it slip. The intensity dropped, and Egypt punished us. Everyone in the camp is gutted. To see another team celebrate like that after we’d led twice… it’s heartbreaking. We need to convert our chances. One-goal margins mean everything at this stage.”