Belgium announces official World Cup starting XI against Iran

Belgium has named its starting eleven for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match against Iran, scheduled for June 21, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles. The announcement comes with a notable absence: winger Jeremy Doku has been ruled out due to illness.

The Red Devils enter this fixture with a degree of urgency. Their opening group match ended in a draw against Egypt, meaning anything less than three points against Iran would put their knockout stage ambitions in serious jeopardy.

Belgium’s lineup and the Doku problem

Belgium’s predicted starting XI features Thibaut Courtois between the posts, with Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans anchoring the midfield. Kevin De Bruyne is expected to pull the strings behind Romelu Lukaku, who leads the line as the focal point of Belgium’s attack.

Doku’s absence through illness is a significant blow. The winger has been one of Belgium’s most dynamic attacking threats, and losing him removes a layer of unpredictability from the Red Devils’ offensive options. Manager Domenico Tedesco will need to find alternative width on the flanks.

Iran’s squad and the stakes of a first-ever meeting

Iran brings its own quality to the table. Mehdi Taremi leads their attacking efforts, while goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand provides experience behind an organized defensive structure.

What makes this fixture particularly intriguing is the fact that Belgium and Iran have never met in a football match before. Zero prior encounters.

Group G features Belgium, Iran, Egypt, and New Zealand. With the expanded 48-team format for this World Cup cycle, the top two teams from each group are expected to advance to the knockout rounds. Belgium’s draw against Egypt means Iran could leapfrog the Red Devils with a win in Inglewood.

The match will be officiated by Argentine referee Darío Herrera.

What this match means for both sides

Lukaku remains Belgium’s all-time leading scorer and carries the kind of physical presence that can overwhelm defensive lines. With Doku absent, the burden of creativity falls even more heavily on De Bruyne’s shoulders.

Taremi’s movement and finishing ability will be Iran’s primary weapon. Beiranvand, meanwhile, will need to be at his best to deal with the aerial threat that Lukaku poses from crosses and set pieces.

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