Belgium vs Iran — World Cup 2026

FILE No. M-517CLASS: GROUP MATCHSTATUS: GROUP STAGEWC 2026 · LOS ANGELES

Belgium

0–0

Iran

Match events

R. Lukaku3'
T. MeunierOn: T. Castagne58'
N. RaskinOn: H. Vanaken58'
A. SaelemaekersOn: D. Lukebakio58'
N. Ngoy66'
R. LukakuOn: A. Theate73'
K. De BruyneOn: M. Fernandez-Pardo87'

25'M. TaremiGoal Disallowed - offside
33'S. Ezatolahi
46'S. HardaniOn: A. Jahanbakhsh
66'E. HajsafiOn: M. Mohammadi
66'M. MohebiOn: M. Torabi
79'S. GhoddosOn: S. Moghanlou
85'S. EzatolahiOn: A. Hosseinzadeh

BelgiumMatch statsIRN

70%Possession30%

23Shots7

7Shots on Target3

4Corners2

7Fouls9

1Yellow Cards1

1Red Cards0

—

Belgium — starting XI

4-2-3-1

Bench

21Timothy Castagne
20Hans Vanaken
14Dodi Lukebakio
3Arthur Theate
26Matías Fernández-Pardo
12Senne Lammens
13Mike Penders
16Koni De Winter
18Joaquin Seys
6Axel Witsel
19Diego Moreira
24Amadou Onana
17Charles De Ketelaere

Iran — starting XI

5-4-1

Bench

7Alireza Jahanbakhsh
5Milad Mohammadi
16Mahdi Torabi
20Shahriar Moghanlou
18Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh
12Payam Niazmand
22Hossein Hosseini
25Danial Eiri
15Roozbeh Cheshmi
17Aria Yousefi
21Mohammad Ghorbani
26Amirmohammad Razzaghinia
10Mehdi Ghayedi
11Ali Alipour
24Dennis Eckert Ayensa

All-time meetings

Belgium wins

Draws

Iran wins

02 · Tale of the Tape

Tale of the tape.

26.5

Average Age

30.8

03 · The Form Guide

Last five walks into the room.

Who's hotter going in? Latest competitive results, newest first.

Belgium

Jun 7

vs Italy U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Final · A. Le Coq Arena

1–1

Jun 4

vs France U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Semi-finals · Kadrioru Staadion

2–1

May 31

vs Estonia U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Group Stage - 3 · A. Le Coq Arena

1–0

May 28

vs Spain U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Group Stage - 2 · Rakvere Linnastaadion

0–1

May 25

at Croatia U17

UEFA U17 Championship · Group Stage - 1 · Rakvere Linnastaadion

2–0

Iran

Jun 21

at Belgium

World Cup · Group Stage - 2 · SoFi Stadium

0–0

Jun 16

vs New Zealand

World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · SoFi Stadium

2–2

Jun 4

vs Mali

Friendlies · Friendly International · Antalya Training Camp

2–0

May 29

vs Gambia

Friendlies · Friendly International · Mardan Sports Complex

3–1

05 · Key Battles

Three duels that decide it.

// Midfield maestro vs Defensive anchor · The creative duel

K. De Bruyne

#7 · Manchester City

S. Ghoddos

#14 · Al-Ittihad Kalba

De Bruyne's range of passing and verticality will test Ghoddos's discipline in a midfield battle that defines Belgium's attacking tempo. If Ghoddos can press early and disrupt De Bruyne's rhythm, Iran may frustrate the hosts; but the Manchester City playmaker's technical superiority should prevail in open play.

// Left winger vs Right fullback · The explosive edge

J. Doku

#11 · Manchester City

E. Hajisafi

#3 · AEK Athens FC

Doku's electric acceleration and close control will repeatedly isolate Hajisafi down Belgium's left flank. Hajisafi's experience and positioning can provide brief respite, but Doku's direct threat suggests Belgium will engineer width-based chances throughout.

// Centre-back vs Withdrawn forward · The pressing duel

Jahanbakhsh's tendency to drop deep and link play will draw Debast out of his defensive line, testing the Sporting CP defender's concentration and timing. Debast's athleticism should cope with Jahanbakhsh's crafting role, though Iran's positional discipline could create pockets of space in the middle third.

06 · Style Clash

Belgium's Precision vs Iran's Structural Discipline

Two tactical philosophies collide: Belgium's ball-dominant, high-tempo intensity against Iran's organised defensive shell and counter-press philosophy.

// Possession architects · Vertical intensity

Belgium

// Defensive compactness · Transition ready

Iran

Controlling

Possession dominance

Economical

Incisive

Build-up tempo

Patient

Aggressive

Defensive shape