Belgium vs – At SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Belgium and Iran clash Sunday, June 21 with Group G wide open after all four teams drew their opening matches. Belgium starts in control, but Romelu Lukaku’s 3rd-minute yellow card—after an inadvertent collision with Iran goalkeep
INGLEWOOD, CA — Belgium and Iran kick off their Group G showdown on Sunday, June 21 at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT at SoFi Stadium, with both teams chasing the same thing: a foothold toward the knockout round. The group is unsettled because all four teams—Belgium. Iran. Egypt. and New Zealand—tied in their opening matches. leaving standings balanced and pressure clearly on.
Belgium is viewed as the group favorite. which sharpens the sense of urgency for the Red Devils to turn dominance into goals. Iran. meanwhile. is approaching the match with realistic expectations. even as it navigates political turmoil around its relationship with the nation and the U.S. The game also marks Iran’s return to the United States after playing its first match in Los Angeles.
Belgium opened the match with possession, but the first major turning point came early. In the 3rd minute. Romelu Lukaku—Belgium’s all-time leading scorer—was issued a yellow card after he kneed Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand in the neck. The foul was inadvertent. Lukaku was trying to latch onto a shot by Kevin De Bruyne in front of the goal when he collided with Beiranvand. Lukaku initially hit Beiranvand in the chest. but the force of the collision forced his knee up and into Beiranvand’s neck. Beiranvand was down for about two minutes before getting back up and staying in the game.
The yellow adds a layer of uncertainty for Belgium. With Jeremy Doku’s return uncertain, the early caution could loom larger than it would in a less consequential moment. Cards are not wiped out until after the group stage ends. and Belgium’s group-stage finale against New Zealand might well decide the winner of Group G.
Belgium pushed hard from the start, piling up several shot attempts that kept Iran frantic and often in scramble mode as the Red Devils worked into the box. Iran defenders knocked away multiple chances, including after Belgium had already gotten into dangerous areas several times.
For Iran, the offense showed signs of life almost immediately. Iran nearly scored on its first real chance. Hossein Kanani had a clear shot in the middle of the box that Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is just able to get a hand on.
Maxin De Cuyper had the best look so far for Belgium. The ball bounced to him, and he fired a shot on goal that went directly into the hands of Alireza Beiranvand.
Once the sequence is put together—the early Belgium pressure. the near-miss for Iran. and Lukaku’s booking—the match’s tension becomes clear: Belgium needs to convert momentum quickly. while Iran is showing enough to make every defensive detail matter. The timing of a first-week yellow can shift a team’s choices for the next stretch. and the group standings make every choice feel louder.
How to watch the game
The game is airing on FS1, with options available on Fubo and the Fox One App. Spanish-language broadcasts are available on Telemundo and Peacock.
Belgium vs Iran predicted scorelines
Seth Vertelney predicted Belgium 1-1 Iran.
Jon Arnold predicted Belgium 2-0 Iran.
Jesse Yomtov predicted Belgium 2-1 Iran.
Victoria Hernandez predicted Belgium 2-0 Iran.
Belgium will be missing Jérémy Doku
Belgium will have to pursue its goal without one of its top attacking players. Belgium announced that Jérémy Doku will miss its upcoming match with Iran due to an illness. Red Devils coach Rudi Garcia said he learned the night of Friday. June 19 that Doku would not be able to play.
Doku has scored seven goals to date across 44 appearances for his country. He was held scoreless in his first match of the 2026 World Cup and is still searching for his first goal on the world’s biggest stage.
Iran’s roster in the spotlight
Iran’s goalkeeper is Alireza Beiranvand, with Saleh Hardani, Ehsan Hajisafi, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Saeid Ezatolahi, Mohannad Mohebbi, Mehdi Taremi, Hossein Kanani, Saman Ghoddos, Ali Nemati, Ramin Rezaeian also listed.
What Group G looks like after one match
New Zealand: 0-1-0 (0) — 1 point.
Iran: 0-1-0 (0) — 1 point.
Belgium: 0-1-0 (0) — 1 point.
Egypt: 0-1-0 (0) — 1 point.
Belgium is ranked 10th in the FIFA world rankings, while Iran is ranked 22nd. In FIFA, Iran is represented as IR Iran, standing for Islamic Republic of Iran.
Azmoun not selected amid controversy
Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei did not select Azmoun, the Iranian forward whose 57 goals in international competition rank third all-time among his countrymen.
“I am very sad,” Azmoun said on Varzesh3’s online World Cup show, per Erfan Hoseiny. “I have many things to say, which I won’t say for now.”
Reuters reported that Iranian media said in March that Azmoun was expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government. The reported central issue was an Instagram post Azmoun shared in January showing him shaking hands with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. the ruler of Dubai and vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. The post has since been deleted.
With Group G still locked after the opening round, Sunday’s match at SoFi Stadium carries weight beyond 90 minutes. Belgium’s early booking risk. Iran’s urgent need to capitalize on openings. and the group’s equal records all point to one thing: the next breakthrough may decide who gets control when the group narrows toward the final match.
Belgium vs Iran 2026 World Cup Group G SoFi Stadium Romelu Lukaku Thibaut Courtois Alireza Beiranvand Jérémy Doku Rudi Garcia Amir Ghalenoei Azmoun FIFA world rankings FS1 Telemundo Peacock Fubo