Maxim De Cuyper has given Brighton & Hove Albion another useful World Cup marker after Belgium’s 5-1 win over New Zealand.
The Guardian’s match coverage recorded Belgium moving into the round of 32 after a convincing Group G victory in Vancouver.
Leandro Trossard scored twice, while Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also struck as Belgium topped the group on goal difference.
For Brighton, the individual detail matters.
RotoWire’s post-match data credited De Cuyper with two shots, three crosses and one corner, underlining his attacking involvement as Belgium finally found rhythm.
De Cuyper Gives Hurzeler A Useful Signal
De Cuyper joined Albion from Club Brugge in July 2025 on a five-year deal, with Brighton’s official announcement noting that his domestic form had already pushed him into Belgium’s senior set-up.
This is not just tournament decoration.
Fabian Hurzeler will want De Cuyper returning from the World Cup sharper in both directions: secure enough to defend space, but brave enough to keep supplying quality from the left.
The timing is useful, too.
Brighton’s Conference League campaign will demand reliable full-back rotation, and the August play-off dates already give Hurzeler an early squad-readiness deadline.
De Cuyper’s latest Belgium outing strengthens the case that his attacking output can travel into higher-pressure games.
Read Brighton has already examined De Cuyper’s earlier Belgium checkpoint. The New Zealand win adds a stronger attacking reference point.
That is exactly what Brighton need before a European campaign.
