High Stakes in Los Angeles
Group G of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is perfectly poised after the opening round of fixtures, with all four teams level on one point. Belgium and Iran find themselves in a crucial encounter at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, on Sunday, June 21st. A victory here would significantly boost either side's chances of progressing to the knockout stages, while a defeat could leave them facing an uphill battle in their final group game.
Belgium: Seeking to Live Up to Expectations
Belgium, with their star-studded squad, will be aiming to assert their dominance in Group G. After a frustrating 1-1 draw against Egypt in their opener, manager Rudi Garcia will be demanding a more clinical performance. The Red Devils possess immense attacking talent, spearheaded by the experienced Romelu Lukaku and the creative genius of Kevin De Bruyne. Their recent form, including a dominant friendly win over Tunisia, suggests they have the firepower to break down any defence. However, concerns remain about defensive cohesion, as highlighted by their opening match result.
Team News & Predicted XI
Belgium appear to have no major fresh injury concerns. Thibaut Courtois is expected to retain his place in goal, with a defence likely featuring Timothy Castagne and Maxim De Cuyper in wide roles, and Zeno Debast and Arthur Theate in the centre. The midfield will be anchored by Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans, providing a platform for De Bruyne to operate in his favoured advanced role. Romelu Lukaku is expected to lead the line, supported by the pace of Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard.
Predicted XI: Courtois; Castagne, Debast, Theate, De Cuyper; Onana, Tielemans; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard; Lukaku.
Iran: Resilience and Counter-Attack Threat
Iran showed remarkable resilience in their opening 2-2 draw against New Zealand, coming from behind twice to secure a point. Coach Amir Ghalenoei will be looking to build on that fighting spirit. Mehdi Taremi remains their primary attacking threat, supported by the pace of Mohammad Mohebi and Mehdi Ghayedi. However, Iran faces significant challenges off the pitch, including logistical issues related to their travel arrangements, which have impacted their preparation and recovery.
Team News & Predicted XI
Iran has no confirmed absentees ahead of the match. Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Dennis Eckert, and Mehdi Torabi are listed as out, with Roozbeh Cheshmi doubtful. Alireza Beiranvand is expected to start in goal, protected by a backline that includes Ramin Rezaeian and Milad Mohammadi. Saeid Ezatolahi will be crucial in screening the defence, while Taremi will spearhead the attack.
Predicted XI: Beiranvand; Rezaeian, Khalilzadeh, Kanaani, Hajsafi; Ezatolahi; Mohebi, Ghoddos, Yousefi; Moghanlou, Taremi.
What's at Stake
With all four teams in Group G on one point, this match is effectively a must-win for both Belgium and Iran. A victory would propel the winning team to four points, putting them in a strong position to advance. A draw would leave both sides in a precarious situation heading into the final group game, while a loss could spell the end of their World Cup aspirations. For Belgium, this is an opportunity to avoid the group-stage exit they suffered in Qatar 2022 and re-establish themselves as a major force.
Prediction
Belgium's superior individual quality and attacking depth make them the favourites. Iran's resilience and counter-attacking threat should not be underestimated, especially given their ability to score against New Zealand. However, Belgium's firepower, led by De Bruyne and Lukaku, is expected to be too much for Iran's defence. A Belgium win with both teams scoring seems a likely outcome.
Predicted Score: Belgium 3-2 Iran.
Kickoff XI is an independent publication and is not affiliated with FIFA.
