Belgium vs Iran World Cup 2026: De Bruyne's Last Dance vs Azmoun's Return — Group G Preview, Lineups & Prediction
-- reading | Updated:
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles -- June 21 2026
All 4 Group G teams on 2pts -- final day decider
Belgium enter the 2026 World Cup in what is almost certainly Kevin De Bruyne's final major international tournament. The Manchester City captain is 35 and has carried Belgium's creative burden for over a decade without a major trophy. This is his last realistic chance. Iran arrive as one of the more technically organised Asian sides, with Sardar Azmoun — who scored 19 goals for AS Roma last season — fit and starting as their focal point. Belgium are heavy favourites but this Belgian generation has form for underperforming in major tournaments relative to the quality in their squad.
Belgium's "golden generation" — De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard — won nothing. Hazard retired. Lukaku is back in the squad but has a difficult relationship with fitness and consistency. De Bruyne remains the engine of everything Belgium do. Against Iran, in Group G that also contains New Zealand and Egypt, Belgium need to win their opener to set the tone for a group they must dominate.
{MONETAG}Match Report — Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Belgium ended a run of 325 minutes without a World Cup goal — their longest since the 1980s — through Romelu Lukaku. But Egypt, with Mohamed Salah creating havoc throughout, equalized to claim a point that leaves Group G wide open. Salah did not score on his World Cup debut but was everywhere — drawing fouls, finding teammates, forcing saves. His involvement created the goal that earned Egypt their draw. Goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais made nine saves to keep Saudi Arabia in the Saudi-Uruguay match; here, the Egyptian equalizer came from a committed team effort rather than individual heroics.
For Belgium, the draw is a frustration. De Bruyne was excellent — the kind of performance that reminded everyone what he is — but the finishing around him was not sharp enough to convert dominance into victory. Lukaku's goal was typical: powerful, direct, first-time finish. Everything else Belgium created, Egypt defended or their goalkeeper smothered. Salah leaves the pitch knowing Egypt can qualify from this group with two more performances like this.
🎯 Micro Angle 1: Kevin De Bruyne — 35 and Still the Best Passer in the World
At 35, De Bruyne remains the finest midfield passer in international football. His range of passing, his ability to find teammates in pockets of space that don't seem to exist until he finds them — these are skills that do not diminish with age in the way pace does. Against Iran's 4-4-2 defensive block, De Bruyne will have license to receive deep and drive. The question is his ability to sustain that output over six potential matches at tournament pace. His knee has been managed carefully by City all season. He is fit. He is motivated. This is it.
🎯 Micro Angle 2: Sardar Azmoun — Iran's World-Class Secret
Sardar Azmoun is one of the most underrated strikers in European football. The 30-year-old scored 19 goals for AS Roma in Serie A last season — numbers that place him among the continent's elite finishers. He suffered an Achilles injury in March 2026 and his World Cup participation was in genuine doubt until May. He has declared himself fit and Iran's coach Carlos Queiroz has confirmed he starts. Against Belgium's centre-backs, Azmoun is the single most dangerous player on the pitch. His combination of physicality, technique and finishing is world-class when he is fully fit.
🎯 Micro Angle 3: Courtois Returns Between the Posts
Thibaut Courtois missed Euro 2024 through injury and spent last season slowly rebuilding his form at Real Madrid following his ACL surgery in 2023. He is back in goal for Belgium and, when fully fit, remains one of the top two goalkeepers in the world. Iran will test him with Azmoun's movement and their set-piece threat — they scored from three corners in their AFC qualifying campaign. Courtois's command of his box will be crucial.
Expected Lineups
- GK Thibaut Courtois
- RB Timothy Castagne
- CB Wout Faes
- CB Arthur Theate
- LB Killian Sardella
- CM Kevin De Bruyne (c)
- CM Amadou Onana
- CM Youri Tielemans
- RW Leandro Trossard
- ST Romelu Lukaku
- LW Dodi Lukebakio
- GK Alireza Beiranvand
- RB Sadegh Moharrami
- CB Shoja Khalilzadeh
- CB Majid Hosseini
- LB Ehsan Hajsafi (c)
- DM Saeid Ezatolahi
- DM Ahmad Noorollahi
- AM Ali Gholizadeh
- RM Mehdi Taremi
- LM Alireza Jahanbakhsh
- ST Sardar Azmoun
⚠️ Azmoun — fit after Achilles injury, starts
Belgium 2-1 Iran. De Bruyne assists the first goal inside 25 minutes. Azmoun equalized with a header from an Iran set piece. Belgium find the winner late through Lukaku. A nervy 2-1 that proves Belgium are not yet the complete side their squad depth suggests.
Match Report -- Belgium 0-0 Iran
A chaotic match ended in a 0-0 stalemate that leaves Group G entirely unpredictable. Belgium had a player sent off in the 60th minute after a VAR review confirmed a red card for Wout Faes. Iran pressed with the extra man but were denied by VAR when Mehdi Taremi appeared to score -- the goal ruled out for offside. De Bruyne was subdued for a second consecutive match. All four teams in Group G -- Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand -- are now on 2 points heading into the final group round.
