Belgium - Iran: score, highlights and statistics

Belgium and Iran meet for the first time in history when they face off in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G on 21 June at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California - a match with a place in the round of 32 very much in the balance.

Match Info: Belgium vs Iran

Belgium vs Iran kicks off on 21 June 2026 at 20:00 BST (British Summer Time) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, near Los Angeles, as part of Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with all Group G fixtures staged across three West Coast venues in the United States and Canada.

Where to Watch Belgium vs Iran?

Viewers in the United States have the most options: the match is available on television via Fox Sports 1 and Telemundo, while online it can be streamed on FOX One, Foxsports.com, Fubo TV, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, and Futbol de Primera Radio.

In Canada, TSN+ carries the match online. Australian supporters can watch on SBS On Demand, while New Zealand fans have access via TVNZ+.

Elsewhere, the match is available on beIN SPORTS CONNECT F.R. and 6play in France, DAZN España in Spain, DAZN Italia in Italy, CazéTV in Brazil, DIRECTV GO and DIRECTV Sports Argentina in Argentina, and VIX in Mexico.

Belgium vs Iran - Match Preview

Belgium enter this historic first encounter as Group G favourites, ranked 8th in the world, while Iran - 20th in the FIFA rankings - arrive having qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup and carrying ambitions of a first-ever knockout stage appearance.

The Red Devils bring a squad bursting with Premier League and European experience. Kevin De Bruyne wears number 7, Romelu Lukaku carries the 9, Leandro Trossard takes the 10, and Jeremy Doku is assigned 11 - a forward line that can trouble any backline. Belgium's third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup remains their best-ever result, and this is their 15th World Cup appearance overall. In their last 5 internationals they posted 3 wins and 2 draws, scoring 16 goals and conceding just 5.

Iran's preparations have been shaped by the high-profile absence of Sardar Azmoun, the nation's most prolific active striker with 57 goals in 91 caps, who was omitted from the squad following reports of alleged government disloyalty. Manager Amir Ghalenoei has reorganised his attack around Mehdi Taremi, the Olympiacos striker who scored 10 goals in 15 qualification matches and will need to be at his best if Iran are to spring a surprise against Belgium.

Head-to-Head: Belgium vs Iran

The 21 June 2026 match at SoFi Stadium will be the first-ever meeting between Belgium and Iran in international football - neither in a World Cup nor in any previous friendly has this fixture taken place, making it a genuinely historic occasion for both footballing nations.

With no shared history to draw on, neither side holds a psychological advantage based on past results. Below are the Group G fixtures that frame this encounter:

• 15 June 2026 - 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage - Belgium vs Egypt (SoFi Stadium)
• 15 June 2026 - 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage - Iran vs New Zealand (SoFi Stadium)
• 21 June 2026 - 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage - Belgium vs Iran (SoFi Stadium)

Belgium - Recent Form

Belgium have won 3 and drawn 2 of their last 5 internationals, scoring 16 goals and conceding 5 - a record that places them among the most productive attacking sides heading into this tournament.

Their most eye-catching result was a 5-2 victory over the United States in March 2026, away from home, followed by a 2-0 win over Croatia in June. A 7-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein in November 2025 underlined their clinical edge, while draws of 1-1 against Mexico and 1-1 against Kazakhstan demonstrated that not every outing has been flawless. Across those 5 matches Belgium averaged more than 3 goals scored per game - a figure that will concern any defensive unit in the tournament.

Iran - Recent Form

Iran arrive at the World Cup having won 2, drawn 2, and lost 1 of their last 5 internationals, with 9 goals scored and just 3 conceded - a defensively disciplined record for a side making their seventh World Cup appearance.

The standout result was a commanding 5-0 victory over Costa Rica in March 2026, followed by a 3-1 win against Gambia in May - two performances that showcased Iran's attacking depth even without Azmoun. A 1-2 defeat to Nigeria in March is the only blemish in an otherwise consistent run, with goalless draws against Uzbekistan and Cape Verde Islands in November 2025 demonstrating a compact, hard-to-break defensive structure.

Mehdi Taremi is Iran's danger man: the Olympiacos striker scored 10 times in 15 qualifying matches and will lead the line at the World Cup. If Iran are to pull off an upset against Belgium, Taremi's involvement will be central to any goalscoring opportunity they create.

Facts and Statistics

4 facts that put the Belgium vs Iran match in context:

• Belgium and Iran have never previously met in any international fixture - the 21 June 2026 encounter at SoFi Stadium is their first-ever meeting in football history.
• Iran are making their 7th World Cup appearance and their 4th consecutive one, a run of consistency unmatched in Asian football over the same period.
• Belgium's third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia remains the finest result in their history; 2026 marks their 15th tournament appearance.
• Sardar Azmoun, Iran's record scorer with 57 goals in 91 caps, does not feature in the 2026 squad, leaving Mehdi Taremi as the sole recognised world-class attacking threat.