Belgium face IR Iran on Sunday, June 21 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, a pivotal Group G clash that doubles as a four way tiebreaker after every team in the section opened with a draw.
Rudi Garcia’s Red Devils were held 1 1 by Egypt in their opener, rescued only by a Romelu Lukaku inspired equaliser off the bench. IR Iran shared an even more dramatic result, twice coming from behind to draw 2 2 with New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium.
Key Details
- Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026
- Kick off Time: 12 p.m. PDT (3 p.m. EDT / 8 p.m. BST / 9 p.m. CEST)
- Venue: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (Inglewood, California)
- Where to Watch: Fox and Telemundo (USA) | ITV1 and BBC (UK) | SBS (Australia) | Zee5 (India)
Where to Watch Belgium vs IR Iran Football World Cup Match?
Fox and Telemundo carry the match in the United States, with ITV1 and the BBC sharing live coverage in the UK, SBS broadcasting in Australia, and Zee5 streaming in India.
Coverage in Canada runs through CTV, TSN and RDS, while France gets the match on TF1 and beIN Sports, and Germany can watch on ARD, ZDF and MagentaTV. Most of these broadcasts are free to air through standard terrestrial or public service channels, though some regions rely on paid sports packages.
How to watch Belgium vs IR Iran with a VPN
If the match is unavailable in your region, a VPN unlocks free access to ITVX, the UK streaming platform carrying full coverage of the game.
ITVX is geoblocked to the UK, so anyone outside the country needs a VPN to obtain a British IP address before signing in. The process takes only a few minutes and works on most phones, laptops, and streaming devices.
- Sign up for PureVPN and install the app.
- Connect to a UK server to get a British IP address.
- Visit ITVX and sign in, or create a free account.
- Search for the Belgium vs IR Iran match and start streaming live.
Belgium Vs IR Iran Football World Cup Team News
Both sides head into matchday two having drawn their openers, and each camp carries its own selection talking points heading into Los Angeles.
Belgium
Rudi Garcia has led Belgium since January 2025, when he replaced Domenico Tedesco after a disappointing EURO 2024 campaign. The Frenchman built his reputation at Lille, where he won the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 2011, before later spells at Roma, Marseille, Lyon, Al Nassr and Napoli. He guided Belgium through World Cup qualifying unbeaten and has steadied a squad that crashed out of Qatar 2022 without winning a single knockout match.
Belgium’s opener ended 1 1 against Egypt in Seattle, with Emam Ashour’s first international goal putting the Red Devils behind before substitute Romelu Lukaku forced an own goal from Mohamed Hany within seconds of coming on. Garcia named a strong 26 man squad including veterans Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Axel Witsel and Lukaku, all survivors of the 2018 squad that finished third at the World Cup in Russia. The most debated selection call was the omission of qualifying top scorer Malick Fofana, while uncapped Lille forward Matias Fernandez Pardo earned a surprise call up.
Captain Youri Tielemans wears the armband for a side that also features club mate Amadou Onana in a double pivot many pundits view as world class. Lukaku, Belgium’s record scorer, missed most of the season through injury at Napoli but was included on reputation and World Cup pedigree alone. Garcia typically deploys a 4 3 3 with attacking full backs, fast wide players, and quick combinations through De Bruyne and Tielemans once Belgium win back possession.
IR Iran
Amir Ghalenoei returned for his second spell as Iran head coach in March 2023, having previously managed the national team between 2007 and 2008. He is the most decorated manager in Iran Pro League history, with multiple league titles mostly won at Sepahan, and he also led Iran to the semi finals of the 2023 Asian Cup. Ghalenoei steered Team Melli through AFC qualifying with a 7 win, 2 draw, 1 loss record in the group phase, sealing their spot with a 2 2 draw against Uzbekistan in March 2025.
Iran opened their World Cup campaign with a thrilling 2 2 draw against New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on June 15. Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi scored for Iran, twice cancelling out goals from New Zealand’s Elijah Just, in a match played against a backdrop of protests and heavy security. Striker Sardar Azmoun was the squad’s most notable omission, left out after a reported rift with the federation despite 57 goals in 91 caps.
Captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh leads the side from wide areas, with 98 caps and 17 international goals, and he remains the only Asian player to finish as a major European league’s top scorer after his 21 goal season for AZ Alkmaar in 2017 18. Mehdi Taremi, Iran’s leading scorer in the squad with 60 goals in 104 caps, is the focal point of the attack and scored 10 times during qualifying. Ghalenoei favours a compact 4 2 3 1 that prioritises defensive organisation before springing Taremi and the wide players on the counter, with goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and veteran defender Ehsan Hajsafi anchoring a well drilled backline.
Belgium World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders
- Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim De Cuyper, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate
- Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel
- Attackers: Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard
IR Iran World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand, Payam Niazmand, Hossein Hosseini
- Defenders: Ehsan Hajsafi, Milad Mohammadi, Ramin Rezaeian, Hossein Kanaanizadegan, Shojae Khalilzadeh, Saleh Hardani, Ali Nemati, Danial Eiri
- Midfielders: Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Saeid Ezatolahi, Saman Ghoddos, Mehdi Torabi, Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Mohammad Mohebi, Mehdi Ghayedi, Mohammad Ghorbani, Aria Yousefi, Amirmohammad Razzaghinia
- Attackers: Mehdi Taremi, Shahriyar Moghanlou, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, Ali Alipour, Dennis Dargahi
Belgium VS IR Iran Match Preview
Belgium and IR Iran meet for the first time at a World Cup on June 21 at SoFi Stadium, a venue better known to American sports fans as the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. Both nations arrive at the midway point of Group G level on a single point after contrasting opening draws, with every side in the group still mathematically alive for top spot. Neither team can be eliminated or confirm Round of 32 qualification in this fixture, but the winner takes control of the group with one match remaining.
Belgium qualified for the tournament unbeaten and arrive as clear favourites given their FIFA ranking of ninth in the world against Iran’s twentieth. Iran’s path to Los Angeles came through a dominant AFC qualifying campaign, and Ghalenoei’s side showed at SoFi Stadium against New Zealand that they will not sit back without a fight. Both teams will see this as the moment to seize control of Group G before the final round of fixtures against Egypt and New Zealand respectively.
Belgium need a win to silence growing pressure after their stuttering display against Egypt, while Iran are chasing their first ever World Cup victory outside of their three previous wins against the United States, Morocco and Wales. A draw would leave the group desperately tight heading into matchday three, while a win for either side offers real breathing room before the final round of group matches.
Tactical Outlook
Belgium are expected to attack through Tielemans and De Bruyne in central areas, looking to release Doku and Trossard wide while Lukaku occupies the central defenders. Iran will likely sit in a deep, compact 4 2 3 1 and look to break quickly through Rezaeian’s overlapping runs and long diagonals toward Taremi.
The key individual matchup pits De Bruyne’s passing range against Iran’s disciplined double pivot of Ezatolahi and Ghoddos, who will look to deny him space between the lines. Belgium need quick combination play and patience against a packed defence, while Iran need defensive discipline for 90 minutes plus a clinical moment from Taremi on the counter.
Football World Cup Match Schedule
| Date | Match | City |
|---|---|---|
| June 18 | Czechia vs South Africa | Atlanta |
| June 18 | Switzerland vs Bosnia Herzegovina | Los Angeles |
| June 18 | Canada vs Qatar | Vancouver |
| June 19 | Mexico vs Korea Republic | Guadalajara |
| June 19 | USA vs Australia | Seattle |
| June 19 | Scotland vs Morocco | Boston |
| June 20 | Brazil vs Haiti | Philadelphia |
| June 20 | Türkiye vs Paraguay | San Francisco |
| June 20 | Netherlands vs Sweden | Houston |
| June 20 | Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire | Toronto |
| June 21 | Ecuador vs Curaçao | Kansas City |
| June 21 | Tunisia vs Japan | Monterrey |
| June 21 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | Atlanta |
| June 21 | Belgium vs IR Iran | Los Angeles |
| June 21 | Uruguay vs Cabo Verde | Miami |
| June 22 | New Zealand vs Egypt | Vancouver |
| June 22 | Argentina vs Austria | Dallas |
| June 22 | France vs Iraq | Philadelphia |
2026 Football World Cup Preview
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is shaping up to be the most ambitious and expansive edition of football’s grandest stage. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the first time ever, three nations are co-hosting the World Cup; a milestone that reflects both the scale of the event and the growing global footprint of the beautiful game.
2026 Football World Cup Format Explained: 48 Nations, 104 Matches
An expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than in Qatar 2022, and take place across three host nations for the first time. This expansion fundamentally changes the tournament’s structure.
The competition now consists of 12 groups of four teams, with each team playing three matches in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament will advance to the knockout Round of 32.
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage now includes a Round of 32, a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, meaning there will be 104 matches in total, 40 more than in Qatar. As a result, this World Cup will last 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in 2026 Football World Cup
There will be 16 host cities in total, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The cities where these games will take place include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States.
The opening match is especially historic. The tournament kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa, making it one of the most iconic venues in World Cup history, and the first stadium to host games at three different men’s World Cups.
The final is set for an equally iconic setting. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has been rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the event.
The Stars to Watch in 2026 Football World Cup
The 2026 Football World Cup features a massive mix of established superstars and next-generation talent. Here are the names central to the tournament conversation:
Established Legends
- Lionel Messi — Argentina’s captain, widely expected to play his final World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal’s all-time icon, also likely bowing out on the biggest stage
Elite Europeans
- Kylian Mbappé — France’s generational superstar and title favourite
- Erling Haaland — Norway’s goal machine making his World Cup debut
- Jude Bellingham — England’s midfield engine and creative force
- Jamal Musiala — Germany’s technically gifted young star
- Lamine Yamal — Spain’s teenage sensation
- Harry Kane — England’s all-time top scorer hunting major honours
South American Powerhouses
- Vinícius Júnior — Brazil’s electric winger and Ballon d’Or contender
- Federico Valverde — Uruguay’s tireless and technically brilliant midfielder
North American Heroes
- Alphonso Davies — Canada’s captain and fan favourite on home soil
- Christian Pulisic — The face of US soccer playing in front of a home crowd
African Star
- Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s legendary forward bringing vast club experience to the global stage
For Messi and Ronaldo, this will likely be their final World Cups, giving the tournament an unmistakably emotional dimension as two of the greatest players in football history bow out on the grandest stage.
2026 Football World Cup Host Stadiums
| Stadium Name | Host City | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 45,000 |
| BC Place Vancouver | Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 54,000 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | 83,000 |
| Estadio Guadalajara | Guadalajara | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | 48,000 |
| Estadio Monterrey | Monterrey | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico | 53,500 |
| Atlanta Stadium | Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 75,000 |
| Boston Stadium | Boston | Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA | 65,000 |
| Dallas Stadium | Dallas | Arlington, Texas, USA | 94,000 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | Houston, Texas, USA | 72,000 |
| Kansas City Stadium | Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 73,000 |
| Los Angeles Stadium | Los Angeles | Inglewood, California, USA | 70,000 |
| Miami Stadium | Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, USA | 65,000 |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | 82,500 |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | 69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area | Santa Clara, California, USA | 71,000 |
| Seattle Stadium | Seattle | Seattle, Washington, USA | 69,000 |
Prize Money and Commercial Scale for 2026 Football World Cup
The prize money for this World Cup was confirmed at a official meeting in Doha. The prize fund is up 50 per cent on that of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and each team also receives $1.5m to cover preparation costs, meaning every team is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
The United States last hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994, and that tournament still holds the record as the most attended World Cup with 3.6 million fans. But that record will certainly be shattered in 2026 with fans entering turnstiles in three countries.
2026 Football World Cup official broadcasters
Here’s a list of the official broadcasters for the 2026 Football World Cup Qatar in different countries across the world.
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | TV Klan |
| Algeria | ENTV |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Angola | Z Sports |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
| Armenia | Fast Sports |
| Aruba | Telearuba |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Bangladesh | TBA |
| Belize | Nexgen |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel, Entel, Tigo Sports |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT/N Sports |
| Brunei | TBA |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas |
| Canada | Bell Media |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CCTV, Migu, Xiaohongshu |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports |
| Costa Rica | Teletica, Tigo Sports |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV |
| Czechia | ČT, TV Nova |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, Pio Deportes |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports |
| Estonia | TV3 Estonia, ERR |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV |
| Fiji | FBC |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 |
| France (Metropolitan) | M6, beIN Sports |
| France (Ultramarine) | Antenne Réunion, La 1ère |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV |
| Greece | ERT |
| Guatemala | Albavisión, Tigo Sports |
| Haiti | TNH |
| Honduras | Televicentro, Tigo Sports |
| Hong Kong | PCCW |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| India | Unite8 Sports (Zee) |
| Indonesia | TVRI, FolaPlay, Telkomsel |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI |
| Jamaica | TVJ |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, DAZN |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK |
| Kenya | Azam TV |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK, Beeline Ukmush TV |
| Laos | TBA |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF |
| Macau | TDM |
| Malawi | Azam TV |
| Malaysia | RTM, Unifi TV |
| Maldives | ICE Networks |
| Malta | Television Malta |
| Mauritius | MBC |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca |
| MENA | beIN Sports |
| Mongolia | EduTV, National Television, Suld TV, MNB, Mobihome VOO |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports |
| Myanmar | TBA |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports, Dgo |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa, Tigo Sports |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad |
| Panama | RPC/COS, TVN Media, Tigo Sports |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN TV |
| Peru | América Televisión |
| Philippines | Aleph Arena, TAP DMV, Cignal PPV |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | Sport TV, RTP, SIC, TVI, LiveModeTV |
| Romania | Antena |
| Russia | Match TV |
| Rwanda | Azam TV |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN |
| Senegal | RTS |
| Serbia | PTC, Arena Sport |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport |
| South Africa | SABC, SportyTV |
| South America | DSports, Disney+ |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Sri Lanka | TBA |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Tanzania | Azam TV |
| Thailand | TBA |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL, ETO |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media |
| Uganda | Azam TV |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO |
| United Kingdom | STV (Central & Northern Scotland), BBC, ITV |
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV |
| Vanuatu | VBTC |
| Venezuela | Televen |
| Vietnam | VTV |
| Zambia | Azam TV |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV |
2026 Football World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is more than a football tournament; it is a cultural event spanning an entire continent. The tournament is expected to be the largest World Cup ever by both attendance and scale, and is also expected to expand the reach of football across North America.
With legendary players potentially playing their last World Cups, host nations hungry for glory, and a brand-new format delivering more football than ever before, the summer of 2026 promises to be utterly unforgettable for fans around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
The match kicks off on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with a 12 p.m. PDT local kick off time.
Both teams play in Group G alongside Egypt and New Zealand, with Belgium seeded above Iran heading into the tournament.
Belgium qualified unbeaten and opened the World Cup with a 1 1 draw against Egypt, salvaged by a Romelu Lukaku inspired second half equaliser.
Mehdi Taremi leads Iran’s attack with 60 international goals in 104 caps and scored 10 times during World Cup qualifying.
Using a VPN is legal in most countries, though streaming services require users to follow their own regional terms of service, so check local regulations before connecting.
