Belgium and Iran have revealed their starting elevens for a crucial Group G match. Political restrictions impact Iran’s preparations, while both teams make notable changes. Lukaku and Taremi are set to play decisive roles.
Belgium and Iran have officially announced their starting lineups for tonight’s Group G fixture at the World Cup 2026, set to take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The match stands out not only for its sporting stakes but also for the logistical and political hurdles faced by the Iranian squad, who continue to navigate travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration in the United States.
Belgium’s coach Rudi García has opted for four changes compared to the previous match, bringing Romelu Lukaku back into the starting eleven alongside De Cuyper, Raskin, and Saelemaekers. The Red Devils will line up with Courtois in goal; Meunier, Ngoy, Mechele, and De Cuyper in defense; Raskin and Tielemans in midfield; Saelemaekers, De Bruyne, and Trossard supporting Lukaku up front. Notably, Castagne, Onana, Doku, and De Ketelaere are left out of the squad for this encounter.
Iran, under coach Amir Ghalenoei, has also reshuffled its formation, switching to a five-man defense and a four-man midfield, with Mehdi Taremi as the lone striker. The starting lineup features Beiranvand in goal; Rezaeian, Khalilazadeh, Kan'aani, Nemati, and Hajsafi at the back; Hardani, Ghoddos, Ezatolahi, and Mohebi in midfield; and Taremi leading the attack. Kan'aani, Hajsafi, and Hardani are new inclusions, while Mohammadi, Yousefi, and Moghanlou are omitted.
Both teams enter this match after opening draws in the group stage—Belgium with a 1-1 result against Egypt, and Iran with a 2-2 tie against New Zealand. The group remains wide open, with all four teams level on points, increasing the pressure for a decisive result tonight. Belgium’s Lukaku, who has seen limited action at Napoli this season but made a significant impact as a substitute in the previous match, is expected to be a central figure. For Iran, captain Mehdi Taremi, who scored 16 goals for Olympiacos this year but has yet to find the net in this tournament, will be crucial to their hopes.
The Iranian squad’s preparations have been complicated by the need to travel back and forth between their base in Tijuana and match venues in the United States, a direct consequence of ongoing political restrictions. This logistical challenge has forced the team to make same-day trips for each fixture, including their previous match in Los Angeles and tonight’s game in Inglewood.
Tonight’s match is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 local time. The outcome could prove pivotal in determining which teams advance from Group G. The situation recalls other major sporting events where off-field factors have played a significant role, such as the recent return of the Brno circuit to the MotoGP calendar after a long hiatus, which also saw teams adapting to new circumstances—more details on that can be found in this report on MotoGP’s Czech GP comeback.
For context, SoFi Stadium is one of the largest and most modern venues in the United States, regularly hosting major international events. The ongoing travel restrictions affecting Iranian athletes are a direct result of U.S. government policy changes in recent years. Group G’s balance means that every point is critical, and tonight’s fixture is likely to have lasting implications for both teams’ World Cup ambitions.
