Egypt and Iran finished 1-1 after a 93rd-minute Iran goal was disallowed for offside via video review. Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 to finish first in Group G while Egypt took second and advanced to the knockout stage for the first time. Both Egypt and Belgium progressed from the group.
“Belgium, Egypt into World Cup last 32 as Iran face anxious wait after stoppage-time drama”
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The draw and VAR decision highlight potential power imbalances, with non-European teams facing added scrutiny while Belgium advanced comfortably.
“Equity and representation in global sport”
Strict rule enforcement via VAR upheld competitive integrity, allowing Egypt's advancement through disciplined results rather than last-minute appeals.
“Merit-based outcomes and rule of law”
Merit and voluntary competition produced clear advancement, though centralized VAR review substituted bureaucratic oversight for on-field judgment.
“Individual execution within agreed rules”
All prior views over-politicize a standard VAR call and overlook unresolved tiebreaker mechanics plus the expanded 2026 format.
“Routine refereeing decision without deeper structural narratives”
Ratings by MBFC