Belgium and Iran face each other in Los Angeles in a Group G match that carries significant weight for both sides heading into the final round of fixtures. They have not met at a World Cup before, but both know that by this stage in the group, the picture will be clearer and the pressure will be real.

Belgium’s World Cup trajectory is a story of what might have been. Their golden generation peaked in 2018, finishing third in Russia after beating Brazil in the quarter-finals. De Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard, Courtois: a collection of talent that any nation would envy. Yet they never reached a final. By 2026 that generation has passed, and Belgium will be working with a newer roster trying to establish their own identity.

Iran’s footballing culture is intense and knowledgeable, built around a domestic league that produces technically capable players and a diaspora spread across Europe that adds to the talent pool. Their 2022 World Cup in Qatar showed a team capable of organisation and moments of brilliance, particularly their win over Wales. Iran are not a side any European team should underestimate.

The two nations carry a broader political and cultural weight that makes any encounter between them notable outside of football. On the pitch, however, both teams will be focused entirely on securing a result that shapes their Group G destiny.

SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles hosted the opening of the 2022 Super Bowl and regularly holds 70,000 fans for major events. The stadium’s state-of-the-art design includes a massive video board visible from miles away. For a midweek Group G fixture, the setting will be spectacular regardless of what is at stake.

Both Belgium and Iran need points here. The result will likely determine which of them advances.