Belgium vs. Iran: World Cup 2026 Group Stage Showdown
All eyes are on Los Angeles Stadium as Belgium prepares to face Iran in a crucial Group G encounter on Sunday, June 21, 2026. With both teams having secured a point from their opening two matches, this fixture is pivotal for their progression in the World Cup 2026 tournament.
Match Details and Broadcast Information
The match is scheduled for an 8:00 PM BST kick-off and will be held at the Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) in Inglewood, California. In the UK, the game will be broadcast live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage commencing at 7:00 PM. Viewers in the UK can also stream the match live via the ITVX website or app, which requires a free sign-up. For those wishing to follow the action ball-by-ball, a live blog will be available. Comprehensive match highlights will be accessible on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, as well as through the BBC iPlayer and ITVX platforms.
Team News and Potential Lineups
Belgium
Defender Zeno Debast is anticipated to remain sidelined for Belgium as he continues his recovery from a thigh injury sustained during club duties. Head coach Rudi Garcia reportedly has no new fitness concerns within the squad, although he may consider tactical changes following a less-than-convincing performance against Egypt. Striker Romelu Lukaku, the team’s all-time leading scorer, is expected to contend for a starting spot up front, potentially replacing Charles De Ketelaere. Lukaku was instrumental in forcing an own goal in the previous match.
Belgium Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders
- Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim de Cuyper, Koni de Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate
- Midfielders: Kevin de Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel
- Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard
Iran
Midfielders Roozbeh Cheshmi and Saman Ghoddos have been managing knocks. Former Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh is also among those dealing with fitness issues. Despite these challenges, the team has shown resilience.
Iran Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand, Hossein Hosseini, Payam Niazmand
- Defenders: Danial Eiri, Ehsan Hajsafi, Saleh Hardani, Hossein Kanaani, Shoka Khalilzadeh, Milad Mohammadi, Ali Nemati, Omid Noorafkan, Ramin Rezaeian
- Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Saeid Ezatolah, Mehdi Ghaedi, Saman Ghoddos, Mohammad Ghorbani, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mohammad Mohebi, Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia, Mehdi Torabi, Aria Yousefi
- Forwards: Ali Alipour, Dennis Dargahi, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, Amirhossein Mahmoudi, Mehdi Taremi
Match Prediction
Belgium is under pressure to deliver a strong performance to quell concerns about their recent tournament form, following their exit at the last 16 of Euro 2024 and a disappointing group stage exit in the 2022 World Cup. However, Iran has proven to be a formidable opponent, overcoming significant off-field challenges to produce an engaging opening match against New Zealand. It is anticipated that Iran will push Belgium throughout the contest. Ultimately, a narrow and hard-fought victory for the Red Devils is expected, which would significantly bolster their chances of advancing to the knockout stage. A predicted scoreline of 1-0 to Belgium.
Head-to-Head History
This will be the first-ever senior men’s international fixture between Belgium and Iran.
Betting Odds
Current odds indicate Belgium as the favorite to win, with odds of 4/11. Iran is priced at 11/2 to secure a victory, while a draw is available at 11/4. Odds are subject to change and were accurate at the time of publication.
