Belgium booked their place in the FIFA World Cup round of 32 with an emphatic 5-1 victory over New Zealand on Friday, while Iran were left anxiously waiting to learn whether they would also progress after finishing their group campaign with a 1-1 draw against Egypt.

The convincing win in Vancouver secured Belgium top spot in Group G after a slow start to the tournament. The Red Devils had opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Egypt before playing out a goalless stalemate with Iran, leaving qualification in the balance heading into the final round of group matches.

Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard led Belgium’s charge with two goals. He opened the scoring in the 28th minute, reacting quickest after a corner to give his side the breakthrough. The winger struck again early in the second half with a well-taken volley to double Belgium’s advantage.

Captain Kevin De Bruyne extended the lead with a powerful left-footed effort from outside the penalty area before Romelu Lukaku headed home Belgium’s fourth goal. Alexis Saelemaekers completed the scoring late in the match as Belgium sealed one of the tournament’s most dominant victories.

The result sent Belgium into the knockout rounds as Group G winners. They are scheduled to face one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams from Groups A, E, H, I or J in Seattle next week.

Egypt also secured qualification after finishing second in the group and will face Australia in Dallas in the round of 32.

Iran, however, must now wait for the remaining group-stage matches in Groups J, K and L to determine whether their record will be enough to earn one of the places reserved for the best third-placed teams. Their campaign ended with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Egypt, leaving qualification dependent on results elsewhere.

New Zealand’s hopes ended with the heavy defeat to Belgium. The All Whites finished the group stage with just one point and exited the competition without recording a victory.

Elsewhere, Spain advanced as Group H winners after defeating Uruguay 1-0 in Guadalajara. Álex Baena scored the only goal of the match, ensuring Spain avoided a potential meeting with Argentina in the next round. Spain will now face the runners-up from Group J, with either Austria or Algeria expected to provide the opposition in Los Angeles.

France also maintained their perfect record by defeating Norway 4-1 to finish top of Group I. The victory ensured France progressed with maximum points, while Norway and Senegal also advanced from the group.

France are set to meet Sweden in the round of 32 at MetLife Stadium, while Norway will take on Ivory Coast as the knockout stage begins to take shape. The remaining fixtures over the weekend will determine the final qualification places and complete the round of 32 lineup.

The United States has eased travel restrictions on Iran’s World Cup team, allowing the squad to enter the country two days before its next tournament match, a move that officials say follows a review of security arrangements and travel procedures.

The decision was announced by the US Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday and comes as Iran prepares for its final group-stage fixture against Egypt in Seattle on Friday. Despite the adjustment, Iranian players and staff will still be required to leave the United States after the match.

Iran’s Football Federation confirmed that the team would depart its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, on Wednesday and travel to Seattle, where it is scheduled to train at the University of Washington on Thursday.

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said the easing of restrictions had been anticipated from the outset.

“This was planned on our end,” Giuliani told The Associated Press. He explained that officials intended to evaluate the team’s first two cross-border movements before deciding whether additional travel flexibility could be granted.

The change follows complaints from Iranian officials and players about the travel arrangements imposed since the start of the tournament. Iran had originally requested that its group-stage matches be moved to Mexico, citing difficulties linked to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. While that request was not approved, FIFA allowed the team to establish its base camp in Tijuana rather than Tucson, Arizona.

For Iran’s first two matches near Los Angeles, players were only permitted to travel into the United States the day before kick-off. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei argued that the arrangement placed his team at a disadvantage, particularly ahead of Sunday’s goalless draw with Belgium.

“Right now we need recovery more than anything,” Ghalenoei said after the match, noting that the conditions had been challenging for the squad.

Team captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh also called for equal treatment, saying Iran was seeking the same procedures available to other participating nations.

The Iranian team has reported difficulties crossing the border between Mexico and the United States. Captain Mehdi Taremi said a normally short flight between Tijuana and Los Angeles took several hours ahead of the team’s opening match against New Zealand.

Tensions also emerged after US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin alleged that an individual with ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had attempted to enter the United States with the delegation. Iran’s Football Federation strongly denied the claim, describing it as false.

While Iranian players have largely avoided commenting directly on the conflict in the Middle East, they have made symbolic gestures during the tournament, including wearing pins commemorating victims of a missile strike that occurred earlier this year.

It remains unclear whether Egypt, Iran’s upcoming opponent, will receive similar travel accommodations ahead of Friday’s match in Seattle.

Honduras is preparing to acquire drone systems from Ukraine as part of a broader push to strengthen border security and combat drug trafficking networks, President Nasry Asfura said on Monday. The move comes as the Central American nation continues to face high levels of gang violence and organised crime linked to narcotics routes.

Asfura confirmed the plan after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv last week, where the two leaders discussed potential cooperation in defence technology. Ukraine, which has developed extensive expertise in drone warfare during its ongoing conflict with Russia, has been seeking to expand international partnerships in military and security sectors.

Speaking to AFP in Panama City during the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, Asfura said the technology could play a key role in monitoring remote areas and improving law enforcement capabilities. He described drones as a practical tool for “efficiently guarding our borders” and strengthening the fight against organised crime.

He added that Ukraine’s experience could provide valuable support for Honduras, stating that the partnership could help the country “further secure our borders and fight drug trafficking,” which he described as a matter of national security.

Zelenskyy, for his part, highlighted Ukraine’s growing role in advanced military technology, particularly unmanned systems. He said Ukraine has become “one of the strongest in the world” in drone development, noting its importance in surveillance and operational defence. He also indicated that such expertise could be shared with partners interested in modern security tools.

Honduras has long been positioned along key cocaine trafficking routes from South America to North America, making it a strategic transit point for criminal organisations. In recent years, authorities have also reported increased signs of domestic coca cultivation and cocaine processing, raising concerns that the country may be shifting from a transit hub to a production zone.

The security situation is further complicated by the presence of powerful gangs such as MS-13 and Barrio 18, both linked to extortion, territorial disputes and violent crime. The country’s homicide rate stands at approximately 24 per 100,000 people, significantly above the global average.

Recent incidents have underscored the scale of the challenge. In one attack last month, 19 people were killed in a region affected by disputes over drug routes, while five police officers died near the border with Guatemala in a suspected ambush by traffickers.

The proposed drone acquisition is part of wider efforts by Honduras to strengthen international security cooperation. Officials have also been in discussions with the United States on joint anti-crime operations. Asfura said the Ukrainian technology could also be adapted for civilian uses, including agricultural monitoring, alongside its security applications.