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(From L) Belgium's midfielder #20 Hans Vanaken, forward #14 Dodi Lukebakio, defender #18 Joaquin Seys, midfielder #07 Kevin De Bruyne, forward #17 Charles De Ketelaere and defender #04 Brandon Mechele take part in a training session at Carson Sports Park in California on June 20, 2026, on the eve of their 2026 World Cup Group G match against Iran. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty Images)

On June 21, 2026, the Belgium national football team played against Iran in a key Group G match at the FIFA World Cup. The Belgium vs Iran clash took place at SoFi Stadium, with both nations seeking their first victory of the tournament after opening-round draws.

Belgium entered the contest following a 1–1 draw against Egypt, while Iran earned a hard-fought 2–2 result against New Zealand. With qualification implications already emerging, Belgium vs Iran was of significant importance to both teams.

Belgium vs Iran Team News and Match Context

Belgium entered the match as the clear favorite according to pre-match projections. The Red Devils were given close to a 70 percent chance of victory, while Iran faced the challenge of upsetting one of Europe’s strongest squads.

However, Belgium dealt with important absences. Jérémy Doku missed the match due to illness, while Zeno Debast remained unavailable through injury. There was positive news for Belgium, though, as all-time leading scorer Romelu Lukaku was expected to play a larger role after appearing as a substitute in the opener.

Iran also monitored the fitness of Saman Ghoddos and Arya Yousefi. Much of their attacking responsibility rested on veteran striker Mehdi Taremi.

Key Players and Tactical Battle

Belgium relied heavily on Kevin De Bruyne’s creativity, supported by Leandro Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere.

Iran looked to stay compact defensively while using quick transitions through Taremi and Mehdi Ghayedi. As both teams sought their first World Cup victory, this Belgium vs Iran match held great importance in the fight to reach the knockout stage.