After the opening matchday on June 15 produced four draws—Belgium 1-1 Egypt and Iran 2-2 New Zealand—all Group G sides sit level on one point with identical records, leaving the race for second place wide open. Egypt’s organized defense and Mohamed Salah’s influence, Iran’s counterattacking threat and set-piece strength, Belgium’s squad depth despite the disappointing result, and New Zealand’s resilient attacking display keep the four teams tightly bunched. With two matchdays remaining and tiebreakers likely to hinge on goal difference or head-to-head results, traders see comparable paths for any side to secure the runner-up spot behind the likely group winner.