Belgium defeated Iran 2-1 in a tense World Cup 2026 group stage encounter at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran. Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a low drive from outside the box, and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead just before halftime with a header from a corner. Iran pulled one back through Sardar Azmoun in the 67th minute, but Belgium held on for all three points.
First Half Dominance
Belgium controlled possession early, with De Bruyne orchestrating play from midfield. The breakthrough came when De Bruyne collected a pass from Eden Hazard and fired a shot that deflected off a defender and into the net. Lukaku's goal came from a well-worked set piece, as he rose highest to meet a corner from Dries Mertens. Iran struggled to create clear chances, with their only shot on target in the first half a long-range effort from Ehsan Hajsafi that was easily saved.
Iran's Fightback
Iran came out stronger in the second half, pressing higher and forcing Belgium into errors. Azmoun scored with a clinical finish after a through ball from Alireza Jahanbakhsh, setting up a tense finale. Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a crucial save from Mehdi Taremi in the 82nd minute to preserve the lead. According to match statistics, Belgium had 58% possession and 12 shots to Iran's 8.
Impact on Group Standings
The win puts Belgium top of Group B with three points, while Iran remain without a point. Belgium's next match is against Canada, while Iran face a must-win game against Morocco. Belgium coach Roberto Martinez praised his team's resilience: "We knew Iran would be tough opponents, especially at home. The players showed great character to see out the win." Iran coach Dragan Skocic lamented missed opportunities: "We created chances but couldn't take them. We need to be more clinical in the next game."
