Belgium vs Iran - prediction, team news, lineups | World Cup 2026

With Group G finely poised, some Belgium and Iran tin instrumentality a large measurement towards the knockout signifier erstwhile they proceed their World Cup 2026 run connected Sunday. 

All 4 teams are locked connected 1 constituent aft their archetypal fixture, truthful triumph successful Los Angeles could beryllium vital; decision for either broadside mightiness permission them connected the brink of an aboriginal exit. 

Match preview

Still clinging connected to the ageing remnants of a 'golden generation', Belgium kicked disconnected their World Cup run with an unconvincing 1-1 gully against Egypt connected Monday evening.

After falling down to a stunning onslaught by Emam Ashour, the Red Devils past turned to 1 of their aged masters, with substitute Romelu Lukaku efficaciously forcing Mohamed Hany to people an ain goal.

However, Belgium are present winless crossed their past 3 World Cup matches, having won 11 of the erstwhile 13, and that demonstrates a caller decline.

Despite their lofty presumption arsenic 1 of Europe's apical teams, they suffered an embarrassing exit successful the radical signifier astatine Qatar 2022, earlier limping retired successful the past 16 astatine Euro 2024.

Nonetheless, Rudi Garcia's broadside are inactive ranked ninth by FIFA and topped their radical successful qualifying with 18 points from a imaginable 24, scoring 29 goals and conceding lone seven.

Given their adjacent 2 radical games are against underdogs Iran and New Zealand, astir volition inactive expect Belgium to spell done - peculiarly with the endowment disposable to Garcia.

While the Belgians person antecedently reached 2 semi-finals, Iran person made six World Cup appearances without getting past the archetypal phase.

Amid unceasing off-field issues, caput manager Amir Ghalenoei led his broadside retired for their opener connected Tuesday, and they showed large tone to doubly combat backmost from behind.

Both Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mahebi equalised against New Zealand to assertion a perchance invaluable point, though that was Iran's astir 'winnable' crippled connected paper.

As their information successful this tourney had been shrouded successful uncertainty for respective months, owed to the ongoing struggle with big state USA, the overriding absorption was 1 of relief.

Under an statement brokered with FIFA, Ghalenoei's squad are not permitted to enactment overnight connected US soil, truthful they returned consecutive to their basal successful the Mexican metropolis of Tijuana to hole for Sunday's gathering with Belgium.

It volition beryllium the archetypal brushwood betwixt the 2 countries astatine elder level, but past suggests that Iran should not expect to prevail.

Not lone person the West Asian federation produced conscionable 3 wins from 19 World Cup matches to date, but they person besides mislaid 7 of 10 against European opposition.

Belgium World Cup form:

D

Belgium signifier (all competitions):

W W D W W D

Iran World Cup form:

D

Iran signifier (all competitions):

L L W W W D

Team News

Following a below-par show against Egypt, Belgium brag Garcia whitethorn determine to marque changes, though it remains to beryllium seen whether Lukaku is acceptable capable to commencement up front.

The Red Devils' all-time apical scorer emerged from the seat to triumph his 127th headdress earlier this week, but helium hardly played for Napoli past play and has present gone 7 World Cup games without a goal.

Utility guardant Charles De Ketelaere mightiness truthful proceed arsenic a mendacious nine, with Leandro Trossard and Matias Fernandez-Pardo besides susceptible of filling that role.

As Zeno Debast is inactive sidelined by a thigh injury, some cardinal defenders could beryllium retained, but with Maxim De Cuyper and Joaquin Seys waiting successful the wings neither full-back tin beryllium definite of his keeping his place.

Meanwhile, Iran person insignificant doubts astir midfield brace Roozbeh Cheshmi and Saman Ghoddos, the second of whom was forced disconnected against New Zealand owed to an ankle issue.

In that game, 36-year-old Rezaeian became the oldest subordinate connected grounds to some people and assistance successful 1 World Cup match, and helium volition proceed to diagnostic astatine right-back.

Up front, skipper and prima striker Mehdi Taremi aims to summation his haul of 60 planetary goals, astir apt linking up with Shahriyar Moghanlou oregon Belgium-based Dennis Eckert.

Belgium imaginable starting lineup:

Courtois; Meunier, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onana, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere

Iran imaginable starting lineup:

Beiranvand; Rezaeian, Khalilzadeh, Nemati, Mohammadi; Mohebi, Ezatolahi, Ghoddos, Ghayedi; Taremi, Moghanlou

We say: Belgium 2-1 Iran 

Although Belgian are apical seeds and Iran volition instrumentality the relation of embattled outsiders, determination whitethorn not beryllium that overmuch to take betwixt the sides this weekend.

Neither squad is wholly dependable astatine the back, but the Belgians' greater idiosyncratic prime successful attacking areas should spot them assertion 3 precious points.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.