
Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is finely balanced after a dramatic first matchday, and the second round of fixtures could go a long way toward deciding which two teams advance. Belgium vs Iran is one of the most consequential matches of the group stage, with both sides carrying the weight of a single point from their openers. Whether you are watching from Brussels, Tehran, Sydney or Toronto, this guide covers every free and paid option available to catch the action live.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Belgium vs Iran |
| Tournament | FIFA World Cup 2026 โ Group G |
| Date | Sunday, June 21, 2026 |
| Venue | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, California, USA |
| Kickoff | 3:00 p.m. EDT / 12:00 p.m. PDT / 8:00 p.m. BST / 9:00 p.m. CEST / 11:30 p.m. IRST |
Tournament Context: World Cup Group G
Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup consists of Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. After Matchday 1, all four teams sit on one point apiece following a pair of draws. Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt in Seattle, while Iran came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in Los Angeles. With the group completely level, this second-round clash carries enormous weight. A win for either side effectively puts them in the driving seat for qualification.
The full World Cup Group G schedule:
- June 15: Belgium 1-1 Egypt โ Lumen Field, Seattle (3:00 p.m. ET)
- June 15: Iran 2-2 New Zealand โ Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood (6:00 p.m. ET)
- June 21: Belgium vs Iran โ Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood (3:00 p.m. ET)
- June 21: New Zealand vs Egypt โ BC Place, Vancouver (9:00 p.m. ET)
- June 26: Egypt vs Iran โ Lumen Field, Seattle (11:00 p.m. ET)
- June 26: New Zealand vs Belgium โ BC Place, Vancouver (11:00 p.m. ET)
The top two teams from each of the 12 World Cup groups advance to the new Round of 32, with the eight best third-place finishers also progressing. Goal difference could prove decisive in a section this tight, so neither team can afford to settle for a draw on Sunday.
Belgium vs Iran: Predicted Lineups
Belgium Predicted XI
Rudi Garcia was appointed Belgium head coach in January 2025 and guided the Red Devils through an unbeaten qualification campaign. A pragmatic tactician, he is known for blending veteran leadership with young attacking energy, and typically deploys a fluid 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 depending on the opponent. His big selection dilemma heading into this match is whether to start Romelu Lukaku from the off after the striker’s match-changing cameo against Egypt.
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid |
| RB | Thomas Meunier | Trabzonspor |
| CB | Brandon Mechele | Club Brugge |
| CB | Nathan Ngoy | RB Leipzig |
| LB | Timothy Castagne | Fulham |
| CM | Amadou Onana | Aston Villa |
| CM | Youri Tielemans (c) | Aston Villa |
| AM | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City |
| RW | Jeremy Doku | Manchester City |
| LW | Leandro Trossard | Arsenal |
| ST | Romelu Lukaku or Loรฏs Openda | Napoli / RB Leipzig |
Iran Predicted XI
Amir Ghalenoei is in his second spell as Iran’s head coach and has built the squad around a compact, counter-attacking identity. Captain Mehdi Taremi remains Iran’s primary offensive threat and their main source of danger from set pieces and open play alike. Veteran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand provides experienced leadership at the back.
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Alireza Beiranvand | Anderlecht |
| RB | Sadegh Mohebi | Persepolis |
| CB | Milad Mohammadi | AZ Alkmaar |
| CB | Majid Hosseini | Kayserispor |
| LB | Abolfazl Jalali | Sepahan |
| CM | Saeid Ezatolahi | Cรกdiz |
| CM | Saman Ghoddos | Sunderland |
| AM | Mehdi Ghayedi | Nassaji |
| RW | Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh | Persepolis |
| LW | Ali Gholizadeh | Caen |
| ST | Mehdi Taremi (c) | Inter Milan |
Tactical Snapshot: What to Expect
Belgium carry the ball beautifully and has the individual quality to unlock almost any defensive shape. Kevin De Bruyne remains the creative heartbeat, and Jeremy Doku’s direct dribbling on the right can generate chaos in wide areas. The key question for Rudi Garcia is whether to give Lukaku the start he arguably earned after his match-saving intervention against Egypt, or whether Loรฏs Openda’s pressing energy is better suited to the opening exchanges.
Iran will not try to match Belgium in possession. Ghalenoei’s side is built to sit deep, stay compact, and strike quickly on the counter. Taremi’s link-up play and movement in tight spaces can unlock chances out of nothing, and Iran showed real character in the New Zealand match by recovering from 2-0 down. Belgium will be wary of that resilience. Expect a match of high Belgian possession, careful Iranian shape, and moments of real quality from both sets of attackers.
About the Venue: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium)
Los Angeles Stadium, known commercially as SoFi Stadium, sits in Inglewood in the greater Los Angeles area, just a few miles east of LAX. Opened in September 2020 at a reported cost of around five billion dollars, it is widely cited as the most expensive stadium ever built. The venue is home to both the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers and features a distinctive translucent ETFE roof that keeps the Southern California elements at bay while keeping the space feeling open and airy. Its famous Infinity Screen, a dual-sided 4K video board suspended above the field, is one of the most striking visual features in world sport. The stadium hosted Super Bowl LVI in 2022 and will serve as a primary venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
For the 2026 World Cup, the stadium operates under the FIFA clean-venue policy as Los Angeles Stadium and is hosting a total of eight matches, including two group-stage games for Iran, two Round of 32 knockouts, and a quarterfinal. The World Cup configuration holds approximately 70,000 spectators, with some corner seats removed to accommodate the wider FIFA-standard pitch. Fans travelling to the match can use the LA Metro World Cup Match Day Direct Service, which runs direct, nonstop shuttles from park-and-ride locations across the city, making it one of the more fan-friendly venues in the tournament.
Where to Watch Belgium vs Iran Live Stream
Belgium vs Iran is live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom on Sunday, June 21, 2026, with kickoff at 8:00 p.m. UK time. Coverage is free-to-air and requires only a valid TV licence. In the United States, the match airs on FS1, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo. Here is how to watch online in five simple steps:
- Find your country’s official broadcaster using the table below
- Download the broadcaster’s app (BBC iPlayer, SBS On Demand, RTVE Play, etc.)
- Create a free account if required โ most free-to-air apps need only an email address and a local postcode
- Navigate to the World Cup section and find Belgium vs Iran
- Log in 10-15 minutes before the 3:00 p.m. EDT kickoff to avoid any last-minute technical issues
All major broadcaster apps support iOS, Android, smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and desktop browsers.
Best Free Viewing Options: Quick Summary
| Region | Broadcaster | Free? | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | BBC One | ✅ Free | BBC iPlayer |
| USA | FOX (antenna/cable) | ✅ Free (antenna) | Fox Sports app (needs provider) |
| USA | FOX One | 🆓 7-day free trial | foxone.com |
| USA (Spanish) | Telemundo | ✅ Free (antenna) | Peacock (subscription) |
| Netherlands | NOS | ✅ Free | NOS.nl / NOS app |
| Sweden | SVT / TV4 | ✅ Free (SVT) / 💳 (TV4) | SVT Play / TV4 Play |
| Norway | NRK | ✅ Free | NRK TV app |
| Australia | SBS | ✅ Free | SBS On Demand |
| Ireland | RTร | ✅ Free | RTร Player |
| Germany | ARD / ZDF | ✅ Free | ARD Mediathek / ZDFmediathek |
| France | TF1 / M6 | ✅ Free | TF1+ / 6play |
| Belgium | VRT / RTBF | ✅ Free | VRT MAX / Auvio |
| Canada | TSN | 💳 Subscription | TSN+ / TSN.ca |
| MENA | beIN Sports | 💳 Subscription | beIN CONNECT app |
| India | Zee5 | 💳 Subscription | zee5.com |
| Global fallback | FIFA+ | Varies | plus.fifa.com |
Belgium vs Iran is a match that could define Group G. Both teams drew their opening games and neither can afford to drop points if they want to secure a straightforward path to the Round of 32. Belgium have the individual quality to be considered tournament contenders, but Iran has already shown they will not lie down against anyone. At the Los Angeles Stadium on June 21, something has to give.
Fans around the world have genuinely good free options available. UK viewers get it free on the BBC. Australian viewers can stream it free on SBS On Demand. Belgian supporters can follow their national team free via RTBF Auvio or VRT MAX. US viewers without cable can access a free trial on FuboTV or YouTube TV to catch the match on FS1. Check your local broadcaster to confirm schedules and any registration requirements ahead of the 3:00 p.m. EDT kickoff.








