Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) and Alizera Jahanbakhsh (Iran)
With all four teams in Group G having 1 point after the first round of matches, the game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is a must-win for both Belgium and Iran. A win would give the winning team 4 points and a strong chance of finishing in the top two. A draw would again put both teams in a difficult position before the final group stage match, while a defeat could almost certainly end their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
TT | Team | ST | T | H | B | BT | BB | students | Point |
1 | New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
2 | Iran | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
3 | Belgium | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
4 | Egypt | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
A must-win match
Belgium's squad depth and superior firepower, led by Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, make them a far stronger contender than Iran, a team that has never advanced beyond the group stage in their World Cup appearances. Many believe Belgium will win; this is the first time Belgium and Iran have met at the national team level, making the match completely new and lacking any historical data to guide expectations.
Belgium entered the match as the strongest contender, having qualified for the 2026 World Cup undefeated and possessing one of the most experienced squads in Group G.
Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt in their opening match, a result that disappointed coach Rudi Garcia given the talent in his squad. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Jeremy Doku are all capable of posing serious threats at this level, and Belgium's record of 29 goals in eight qualifying matches shows their attacking potential is real.
Iran, under the leadership of Amir Ghalenoei, showed real resilience in their 2-2 draw against New Zealand, twice equalizing after falling behind. Mehdi Taremi leads the attack with 60 international goals in 105 appearances and remains a major threat.
However, Iran's squad is largely made up of players currently playing domestically, and facing a European team of Belgium's caliber is a significant challenge.
Belgium's form
Belgium - Egypt 1-1 (FIFA World Cup)
Belgium - Tunisia 5-0 (Friendly match)
Croatia - Belgium 0-2 (Friendly match)
Belgium - Mexico 1-1 (Friendly match)
USA - Belgium 2-5 (Friendly match)
Belgium's pre-tournament form has been encouraging, with a 5-2 win over the USA and a 2-0 victory away at Croatia demonstrating genuine attacking intent. The 1-1 draw with Egypt in the first match was a minor disappointment, although it highlighted defensive weaknesses that Iran could exploit.
Iran's form
Iran - New Zealand 2-2 (World Cup 2026)
Mali - Iran 0-2 (Friendly match)
Gambia - Iran 1-3 (Friendly match)
Costa Rica - Iran 0-5 (Friendly match)
Nigeria - Iran 2-1 (Friendly match)
Iran are in pretty good form, winning 3 of their last 5 matches, including a resounding 5-0 victory over Costa Rica. Their 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their World Cup opening showed they can score at this level, but conceding two goals in that game highlighted weaknesses in their defense that Belgium will look to exploit.
Balance of power
Belgium's squad has been fully announced and includes a mix of experienced internationals and emerging young talents. Thibaut Courtois returns to goal, bringing world -class saves to a team that has been somewhat shaky defensively.
Captain Youri Tielemans leads the midfield, while Romelu Lukaku spearheads the attack with 90 international goals in 126 appearances. Kevin De Bruyne, with 37 international goals, is the creative inspiration behind him.
Jeremy Doku on the left wing offers speed and unpredictability, while Leandro Trossard is a reliable option given Arsenal's recent form. Amadou Onana is a key player in midfield and allows De Bruyne more freedom to operate in attacking areas. There are no suspensions reported for the match.
Iran's coach, Amir Ghalenoei, has a stable squad. Mehdi Taremi leads the attack, supported by Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who has European experience from his time at Brighton and Hove Albion. Veteran left-back Ehsan Hajsafi, Iran's most capped player with 146 appearances, is expected to feature. Saeid Ezatolahi will occupy the defensive midfield position, and experienced goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand is expected to start.
Predicted lineup
Belgium (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, De Winter, Arthur Theate, De Cuyper; Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans (captain), De Bruyne; Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Romelo Lukaku, Leandro Trossard
Iran (4-5-1): Beiranvand; Rezaeian, Khalilzadeh, Kanaanizadegan, Hajsafi; Jahanbakhsh, Ezatolahi, Cheshmi, Mohebi, Torabi; Taremi
Key tactics
The focal point of the match will be the duel between Kevin De Bruyne and Iran's solid defensive midfielders, Saeid Ezatolahi and Rouzbeh Cheshmi. De Bruyne has scored 37 goals for Belgium and is most dangerous when receiving the ball in space just in front of a dense defense, precisely the kind of formation Iran is likely to employ.
Iran's midfield dropped deep in the match against New Zealand but still conceded two goals, which shows that their defensive organization has gaps when transitioning from defense to attack. If Belgium's wingers can contain Iran's full-backs, De Bruyne will have the necessary space to make passes to Lukaku.
However, Belgium will face some trouble in attack as winger Jérémy Doku is certain to be absent due to a respiratory infection, and Matias Fernandez-Pardo of Lille will replace him.
Consulting experts, former BBC commentator Mark Lawrenson predicted a comfortable 3-0 victory for Belgium, while former England striker Chris Sutton opted for a 3-1 win.
Sports Mole expert Jonathan O'Shea predicts Belgium will beat Iran 2-1. Yahoo Sports predicts a 1-0 result. Only Chris "The Bear" Fallica of FOX Sports predicts a 3-1 victory for Belgium.
Prediction: Belgium - Iran 3-1
World Cup | Asian Handicap | Over/Under | |||||||||||
Gate | Handicap | Away | Over | Total | Under | ||||||||
June 22nd, 02:00 | Belgium vs Iran | 1.90 | 0 : 1 1/4 | 1.90 | 1.85 | 2 1/2 | 1.95 | ||||||
June 22nd, 02:00 | Belgium vs Iran | 1.95 | 0 : 1 1/4 | 1.90 | 1,875 | 2 1/2 | 1.95 |
June 22nd, 02:00 | Belgium vs Iran | 2.20 | 0 : 1 1/2 | 1.70 | 1,875 | 2 1/2 | 1.95 |
June 22nd, 02:00 | Belgium vs Iran | 1.90 | 0 : 1 1/4 | 1,925 | 1,875 | 2 1/2 | 1.95 You may also like  World News June 23: Trump sends stern warning to IranUS President Donald Trump warned Iran about the nuclear deal; Trump commented on the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer – these are some of the notable world news stories on June 23.  Live Colombia 0-0 Democratic Republic of Congo (first half): Deciding who advances.Predictions for the Colombia vs. Democratic Republic of Congo match heavily favor the South American team, but their opponents will certainly not accept defeat easily.  FIFA World Cup 2026: “Ronaldo, what planet are you from?”FIFA World Cup 2026: “Ronaldo, what planet are you from?” |
June 22nd, 02:00 | Belgium vs Iran | 1,975 | 0 : 1 1/4 | 1.90 | 1.90 | 2 1/2 | 1.95 |
June 22nd, 02:00 | Belgium vs Iran | 2.00 | 0 : 1 1/4 | 1.90 | 1.85 | 2 1/2 | 2,025 |
June 22nd, 02:00 | Belgium vs Iran | 2.00 | 0 : 1 1/4 | 1,875 | 1.85 | 2 1/2 | 2.05 |
The initial odds for the match, listed before the tournament, were Belgium giving Iran a 1.5-goal handicap, with a 90-90 payout. A few days before the tournament, the odds were even more volatile, with a 1.5-goal handicap of 2.2 – 1.70. During the tournament, the market price remained Belgium giving a 1.5-goal handicap, 97-90. As of midday today, the market is still at 1.5 goals, with a win or loss of 87. Although the market seems to favor the underdog, choosing Belgium remains the safer option.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/soi-ti-so-tran-bi-iran-con-mua-ban-thang-19626062114374739.htm
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