Belgium vs IR Iran Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Belgium started their FIFA World Cup campaign in fairly unconvincing fashion as they shared a draw with Egypt, and they now take on IR Iran in Los Angeles.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Belgium preview: Held by Egypt
In their opening game in Group G at FIFA World Cup 2026, Belgium shared a 1-1 draw with Egypt in Seattle. The Belgians went behind early on due to an excellent strike from Emam Ashour before Romelu Lukaku, having only just come off the bench, forced Egypt defender Mohamed Hany to put into his own net and earn The Red Devils a point.
Rudi Garcia will be very frustrated with how that game went because Belgium had shown some improvement in 2026 with a draw against Mexico as well as comfortable and impressive victories against the USA, Croatia and Tunisia before the FIFA World Cup.
IR Iran preview: Entertaining start
Amid difficulties in their preparation off the pitch, IR Iran managed to qualify for yet another FIFA World Cup and they began their campaign with an action-packed draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
In an entertaining contest, New Zealand took an early lead via Elijah Just, assisted by Chris Wood, before wing-back Ramin Rezaeian equalised. Just, again assisted by Wood, then re-established The All Whites' lead early on in the second half before Rezaeian turned provider with an excellent cross for Mohammad Mohebi, getting the Iranians a point.
Belgium team news: Lukaku still unlikely to start
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
After an injury-hit campaign, Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku is again not expected to start for this one, having been deemed unfit by Garcia. The Napoli forward could well be a key 'finisher', both in front of goal and at the end of games, for the Belgians this summer.
Jeremy Doku has reportedly been dealing with some breathing issues from an infection in training, as well as a slight leg injury, but appears to be fully fit. The Manchester City winger was excellent at the end of this season but he underwhelmed in their opener against the Egyptians.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Meunier, Ngoy, Mechele, Castagne; Onana, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere
Unavailable:
Questionable: Debast (Injured)
IR Iran team news: Flexible Iran
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Aria Yousefi came off at half-time against New Zealand in their opener, replaced by midfielder Mehdi Ghayedi as the Iranians switched to a slightly more proactive shape, with Amir Ghalenoei switching from a back three to a back four within the game.
That is again expected to be the case as they now take on the Belgians in their second game. Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Dennis Eckert were all doubts against New Zealand and, despite being named on the bench, none of them played any minutes.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Beiranvand; Khalilzadeh, Nemati, Mohammadi; Rezaeian, Ezatolahi, Mohebi, Ghayedi, Ghoddos; Moghanlou, Taremi
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Belgium’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Thibaut Courtois ($4.9m) – Goalkeeper
Jeremy Doku ($7.5m) – Midfielder
Kevin De Bruyne ($7.5m) – Midfielder
Matchday 2 captain pick: Jeremy Doku
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Romelu Lukaku, Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne
Free kicks: Kevin De Bruyne
Corners: Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans
IR Iran’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Alireza Beiranvand ($4.2m) – Goalkeeper
Ramin Rezaeian ($4.0m) – Defender
Mehdi Taremi ($6.1m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Mehdi Taremi
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Mehdi Taremi
Free kicks: Mehdi Taremi
Corners: Saman Ghoddos, Mehdi Ghayedi
Key stats
- Belgium have lost only one of their last 16 group stage matches at the FIFA World Cup (W8 D7).
- Belgium are unbeaten in their last 14 international matches (W9 D5), since a 1-3 defeat against Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League in March 2025.
- Thibaut Courtois could make his 17th World Cup appearance, equalling the Belgium national team record held by Enzo Scifo.
- IR Iran have lost only one of their last eight international matches (W4 D3).
- Ramin Rezaeian has scored in IR Iran’s last three international matches.
- Iran’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh plays for Belgian club Dender. Jahanbakhsh and Belgium forward Leandro Trossard were team-mates at Brighton from 2019-21.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
Belgium vs IR Iran prediction
IR Iran will try to recreate a similar game-plan to that of Egypt as they attempt to frustrate the Belgians and pounce on the counter-attack, going through Olympiacos forward Mehdi Taremi, who remains the key man for the Iranians in the final third.
Belgian fans will be concerned about their side's lack of cohesion going forward. They were notably shoddy in possession with their passing slow and inaccurate against the Egyptians. An inability to play and spring quickly will play into the hands of the Iranians - and IR Iran do have some repeatable patterns of play that can expose a fairly weak Belgian back-line. Belgium do have to remain favourites, especially with the game changers off the bench, but it may not be as straightforward as they would have imagined before the tournament.
Belgium vs IR Iran betting tip: Belgium to win & both teams to score
