Sabasports Match Preview
World Cup: Belgium vs Iran
Kickoff Time: 2026-6-22 3:00 (HKT)
Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt in their opening match, picking up one point. Throughout the game, Belgium displayed their trademark possession play with smooth passing combinations and created numerous dangerous scoring chances. Nevertheless, the side underperformed in the final third and failed repeatedly to convert their territorial dominance into goals. Tactically, Belgium’s attacking threat lies predominantly on the flanks, with the team relying on combinations between central midfield and wide areas to break down opposition defences. Kevin De Bruyne orchestrates play from the centre, using Jeremy Doku’s constant movement to stretch opposing backlines. Aside from Doku, Leandro Trossard is another distinctive attacking threat: he can generate chances out wide while also dropping into a makeshift central striker role through the middle. Charles De Ketelaere deserves a special mention. Manager Rudi Garcia deployed him as the focal striker in the opener, adopting a pseudo-strikerless formation designed to unlock De Bruyne’s full potential. De Ketelaere boasts elite playmaking vision alongside reliable finishing ability, complemented by impressive aerial presence and poaching skills courtesy of his stature.
Iran played out a thrilling 2-2 draw against New Zealand last time out, with both sides claiming a single point apiece. Iran enjoyed marginally less possession across the 90 minutes, yet they sustained persistent threats through corner kicks and aerial duels. Their defensive work featured aggressive tackling, though this came at the cost of frequent fouls and questionable disciplinary control. Iran operate a core 4-4-2 counter-attacking system. The team prioritises physical duels, adheres to rigid tactical discipline, and places heavy emphasis on rapid transitions between defence and attack. Their two key midfielders, Saman Ghoddos and Saeed Ezatolahi, both ply their trade in the UAE Pro League. Ghoddos possesses refined technical ability and exquisite ball control, acting as Iran’s primary playmaker. Ezatolahi serves as a defensive shield at the base of midfield, excelling in robust tackling and physical defensive work. Captain and frontman Mehdi Taremi is Iran’s undisputed attacking talisman. At 33 years of age, he retains polished technique and functions as an effective target man up front. Overall, Iran have no desire to hog possession; their greatest strength lies in launching lightning-quick counterattacks upon winning back the ball. Set pieces also stand as a lethal weapon for the squad, who boast multiple players adept at winning headers. Set-piece goals accounted for as high as 40% of Iran’s total strikes during the World Cup qualifying campaign.
There is no doubt that Belgium hold a clear edge in overall quality over Iran. Complicating matters further, Iranian players are barred from overnight stays on US soil by American authorities. The squad are only permitted to cross the border briefly on matchdays and must depart the United States immediately after each fixture, which has taken a severe toll on the players’ physical and mental stamina. Taking all factors into account, the more talented Belgium are firmly favoured to claim the victory.
Belgium ‘s Last 5 Games: DWWDW
2026-06-16 Belgium 1-1 Egypt
2026-06-06 Belgium 5-0 Tunisia
2026-06-03 Croatia 0-2 Belgium
2026-04-01 Mexico 1-1 Belgium
2026-03-29 USA 2-5 Belgium
Iran ‘s Last 5 Games: DWWWL
26-06-16 Iran 2-2 New Zealand
26-06-05 Iran 2-0 Mali
26-05-29 Iran 3-1 Gambia
26-03-31 Costa Rica 0-5 Iran
26-03-27 Iran 1-2 Nigeria
Prediction: Belgium to win