Belgium Takes on Iran in World Cup Showdown: Bold Predictions, Key Lineups, and What to Expect

Belgium is aiming to take a massive step toward securing a spot in the knockout round of the World Cup, but must avoid being caught off guard by Iran.

The Red Devils were underwhelming in their Group G opener, settling for a 1–1 draw with Egypt thanks to a second-half own goal, but the point earned in Seattle could prove crucial for advancement. With four points nearly certain to lock in a last 32 spot this summer, a Belgium victory on Sunday would be cause for enormous celebration.

The tensions between Iran and the United States have overshadowed its involvement at this summer's tournament, but a stunning upset over the Europeans at SoFi Stadium would virtually guarantee their passage to the knockout stage. A dramatic 2–2 draw with New Zealand in their opening match has left Team Melli in an encouraging position.

Sunday marks the first-ever encounter between Belgium and Iran in any competition, with the former widely expected to come out on top in this historic meeting. However, following a lackluster start to the 2026 tournament and a dismal showing four years ago in Qatar, the Red Devils cannot be fully relied upon to sidestep this potential pitfall.

Belgium vs. Iran Score Prediction

Belgium Clinches Crucial Win

The remaining members of Belgium's golden generation have one last opportunity to make their mark this summer, but the display against Egypt must be significantly improved if the nation is to fulfill its lofty ambitions.

Rudi Garcia has assembled a squad that blends experience with youth, with iconic names like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, and Romelu Lukaku sharing the dressing room with emerging talents. While the veteran presence is invaluable for the Red Devils, their younger players must also step up and make an impact.

Fortunately, Sunday's contest is a clear mismatch in terms of quality and FIFA rankings, and Belgium should capitalize fully. Having netted 20 goals across their five pre-tournament warm-up matches, it's time for Garcia's attack to announce itself on the World Cup stage.

Iran is not known for its defensive solidity, as evidenced by the performance against New Zealand, and they will find it difficult to contain Belgium's potent attacking threat.

Prediction: Belgium 3–1 Iran

Belgium Predicted Lineup vs. Iran

Zeno Debast had been Belgium's primary injury concern for much of the pre-match build-up, but that changed when local reports indicated star winger Jérémy Doku could be sidelined with a respiratory problem. Lille's Matias Fernandez-Pardo may step in as his replacement.

The Aston Villa midfield duo of Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana are expected to hold their spots in Garcia's double pivot, with De Bruyne serving as the primary playmaker in the No. 10 role. The Napoli star will be supported by Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard in a Premier League-heavy attacking unit.

Romelu Lukaku made a huge impact as a substitute last time out, directly contributing to Egypt's own goal within 30 seconds of coming on. Nevertheless, given the 33-year-old's limited match sharpness, Atalanta's Charles De Ketelaere is likely to retain his starting berth as the lead striker.

Belgium predicted lineup vs. Iran (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Meunier, Ngoy, Mechele, Castagne; Onana, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Fernandez-Pardo; De Ketelaere.

Iran Predicted Lineup vs. Belgium

Iran deployed a 4-4-2 shape against New Zealand, and it remains unclear whether Ghalenoei will switch to a more defensively structured system when facing Belgium.

Should the 62-year-old stick with the same formation, significant personnel changes seem unlikely, though former Brentford midfielder Saman Ghoddos and the adaptable Arya Yousefi are minor doubts after picking up knocks in the opening game.

Iran will need a sharp and clinical display from Olympiacos striker Mehdi Taremi, with the 33-year-old expected to lead the attack alongside Shahriyar Moghanlou.

Iran predicted lineup vs. Belgium (4-4-2): Beiranvand; Rezaeian, Khalilzadeh, Nemati, Mohammadi; Mohebi, Ghoddos, Ezatolahi, Ghayedi; Moghanlou, Taremi.

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Ewan Ross-Murray is a freelance soccer writer who focuses primarily on the Premier League. Ewan was born in Leicester, but his heart, and club allegiance, belongs to Liverpool.