Lively start in Seattle with both sides looking keen to drive forward as swiftly as possible.

Egypt bossing most of the ball and Iran content to sit back for now.

Away we go... Group G has been bubbling away but it's going to come to the boil in the next two hours.

Don't go anywhere...

Pooria Jafereh
BBC Persian

Seattle is not Los Angeles, but the reaction to the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been exactly the same as in the first two matches. Large sections of the Iranian crowd booed while the anthem was being played.

The Lion and Sun flags, associated with pre-revolutionary Iran, once again comfortably outnumber the official flags of the Islamic Republic inside the stadium.

Image source, Getty Images

Hand slaps, coin toss and pre-match photos all done... we'll have a moment of silence in respect of those affected by the Venezuelan earthquake.

After that the only thing left is to play football and sort this Group G table out once and for all.

Pooria Jafereh
BBC Persian

Seattle is not Los Angeles. This no longer feels like a home game for Iran. The Egyptians have come to this historic match in big numbers, and that will be a new challenge for the Iranian players if they want to get anything out of the game.

There are also plenty of Liverpool shirts in the crowd, blending almost seamlessly with the red of the Egypt jerseys.

Every time Mohamed Salah runs at the Iranian defence, you can expect the roar to rise around Seattle’s World Cup stadium.

Image source, Getty Images

You could be forgiven for forgetting Belgium were the No1 ranked team on the planet for four years until the last World Cup in 2022.

The Red Devils might be unbeaten in 15 games, but they just cannot find the net, especially on the biggest stage where they have managed just two goals across their past five World Cup games, one of which was an own-goal in the draw with Egypt in the opening game.

They have mustered 69 shots without scoring since Micky Batshuayi netted against Canada four years ago, though Jeremy Doku (pictured) is back for this game while their defence remains as stoic as ever.

Thibaut Courtois is set to make a record‑breaking 18th World Cup appearance, overtaking Enzo Scifo as the most in Belgian history.

His clean sheet against Iran was his eighth, another tonight would take him one behind Peter Shilton and Fabien Barthez for the most in World Cup history.

Just 120 miles apart, as the crow flies, the players have emerged from the tunnels in Seattle and Vancouver, taken the long walk through the giant flags stretched across the pitch and we are currently enjoying the anthems.

Image source, Getty Images

New Zealand are a funny one.

The lowest-ranked qualifier for this tournament, at 85th in the world, the All Whites are seeking to avoid unwanted history tonight as Darren Bazeley's men seek a first win on the biggest stage in their ninth attempt.

If they fall short they will match the mark of Honduras as the nation to have played the most World Cup games without a win.

That said, before the 2-1 defeat to Egypt in their second game, the Kiwis were unbeaten in four games stretching back to 1982, and have avoided defeat in their past two games against European opposition, drawing with both Slovakia and Italy, then defending champions, in 2010.

Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made a string of impressive saves to keep alive Iran's hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, as they earned a hard-fought point against 10-man Belgium.

Image source, Getty Images

For Iran, a third successive draw in Group G could almost certain prove enough to reach the last 32, depending on other results to come, but a win would guarantee it.

Whatever you do, don't go to bed early (or late, whatever... you know what I mean)... Iran's past two wins at the World Cup were both goalless heading into injury time.

They then scored a 95th -minute winner against Morocco in 2018 and netted in the 98th and 101st minutes in their 2-0 victory against Wales four years ago.

Image source, Getty Images

If you've just woken up, here's what you've missed in the past few hours...

Norway 1-4 France - Much-changed Norway swept aside

Senegal 5-0 Iraq - Scotland's knockout hopes dealt a blow

Cape Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia - Islanders book date with Argentina

Uruguay 0-1 Spain - Uruguay eliminated as Spain top group

Shaimaa Khalil
BBC News

Seattle’s stadium is steadily filling up, with a cacophony of sights and sounds. Egyptian flags ripple through the crowd alongside elaborate pharaoh headdresses, while countless Mohamed Salah shirts stand out in the sea of red. Familiar Egyptian pop songs ring out, prompting one young woman to break into an impromptu belly dance.

Iranian supporters have arrived carrying both the official flag of the Islamic Republic and the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag. Nearby, anti-Iranian government chants compete with the music. Many supporters have their faces painted in the colours of both nations, while others wave rainbow flags or wear rainbow wigs

The stakes are high with Egypt and Iran both chasing a place in the knockout stages. But this fixture has already attracted attention beyond football. Seattle has designated it part of the city’s Pride celebrations, placing it at the intersection of a city celebrating its LGBTQ community and two Muslim-majority nations whose football federations have expressed discomfort with that association.

It is a vivid reminder that when the World Cup comes to town, it rarely brings just football. It also becomes a meeting point for identity, politics, culture and sport — all playing out in the same place

Image source, Getty Images

Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei says he will not address "things that do not exist" as his team prepare to play Egypt in Seattle.

Local organisers have designated the game as a Pride Match because it falls on the Friday before Pride Weekend, which celebrates diversity and the LGBTQ+ community.

Drag performances and Pride watch parties are planned across the city while rainbow flags - a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, diversity, and social inclusion - will fly inside the stadium.

Despite complaints from Iran and Egypt, countries where homosexuality is illegal, the event will still take place.

Click here for more.

Mohamed Salah inspired Egypt to their first-ever World Cup win, at their ninth attempt, which has proved enough to secure their qualification for the last 32.

Salah's 67th-minute goal gave Egypt the lead - after they recovered from a shock early New Zealand opener - before his corner was headed home by Trezeguet to seal the historic 3-1 win.

Image source, Getty Images

Egypt claimed their first-ever win at a World Cup in the second round of games with a 3-1 victory over New Zealand.

It was their ninth attempt at doing so, having drawn three and lost five of their previous eight matches across four tournaments (1934, 1990, 2018 and 2026).

With a final game against Iran – a side who have won just one of their past seven World Cup games – they have a great chance to double their World Cup wins tally and qualify for the knockout stages as group winners.

Former Aston Villa man Trezeguet starts for Egypt after scoring as a substitute in the win against New Zealand. His inclusion is one of four changes for the group leaders, with Manchester City's Omar Marmoush among those dropping out.

Mohamed Salah captains the side.

Egypt: Shobeir, Hany, Abdelmonem, Rabia, Fatouh, Lasheen, Ashour, Zico, Saber, Trezeguet, Salah

Iran make two changes from the draw against Belgium, with Milad Mohammadi and Mohammad Ghorbani in from the start.

Iran: Beiranvand, Rezaeian, Kanani, Khalilzadeh, Nemati, Mohammadi, Ghoddos, Ghorbani, Ezatolahi, Mohebbi, Taremi.

New Zealand make two changes to the starting line-up from their 3-1 loss to Egypt.

Darren Bazeley brings in Tyler Bindon and Ryan Thomas for Callum McCowatt and Michael Boxall.

New Zealand XI: Crocombe, Cacace, Bindon, Surman, Payne, Bell, Stamenic, Just, Singh, Thomas, Wood.

Image source, BBC/ Opta

Jeremy Doku starts as Rudi Garcia has made five changes to the Belgium XI that started the draw with Iran.

Timothy Castagne, Arthur Theate, Hans Vanaken and Charles De Ketelaere also start.

Nathan Ngoy is suspended, Thomas Meunier, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Saelemaekers and Nicolas Raskin drop out.

Belgium XI: Courtois, De Cuyper, Theate, Mechele, Castagne, Tielemans, Vanaken, Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard, De Ketelaere.

Image source, BBC/ Opta

Image source, Opta/Getty Images

What a group this is.

Going into the final game any of three teams can finish top and all four could yet progress to the knockout stages... presumably just how FIFA dreamed of it.

The equation is clear for Egypt, win and they progress to the last 32, back in Seattle on Wednesday, as group winners, to face one of the third-placed finishers.

A draw would ensure a top-two finish and results elsewhere tonight mean they are through to the next round even with a loss and a third-placed finish, with four points already on the board,

Iran would qualify with a win and a draw could be enough to guarantee a place if Belgium also draw, depending on the number of goals scored in each match.

Even if Iran end the group in third after another draw, three points and a goal difference of zero would likely be enough to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams

Australia lie in wait for whoever finishes second in the group in Dallas on Friday.

This should be quite a night.

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning!

Whether you're just in from a night out, up early to start your weekend or in need of thunder-buddies on what is a wild summer night in the UK, have we got a treat for you...

All bleary eyes are on Group G, arguably the most intriguingly poised of the dozen.

Egypt, Iran, Belgium and New Zealand all go into the final game with hopes of securing a knockout spot, and with everyone except Egypt facing the real prospect of an early end to their World Cup adventure in two matches played just 120 miles apart, in Vancouver and Seattle.

Plenty to get through before kick-off in 30 minutes so let's get you up to speed.