Belgium desperately needs a win in their second matchday of the 2026 World Cup group stage. Rudi Garcia's side failed to beat Egypt in their opening game, drawing 1-1, putting pressure on the Red Devils. Their opponents, Iran, also impressed in the first round, but showed a weak defensive performance in their 2-2 draw with New Zealand. The loss of key striker Sardar Azmoun significantly reduces their attacking potential, and all hope now lies with Mehdi Taremi.
Despite the age of key players like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois, they are capable of deciding the outcome at any moment. On the other hand, Iran has historically never advanced beyond the group stage at a World Cup, and in this match, they will find it extremely difficult to counter the organized attack of the European giants. Team Melli will likely focus on defense, but they're unlikely to be able to contain the Belgian attack for the entire match.
While a goal from Iran, which has been scoring in recent matches, can't be completely ruled out, Belgium should prevail. The expected scenario is an active Belgian game from the start, an early goal, and a convincing victory.
