Meunier urges Belgium to beat Iran and secure World Cup progress

Belgium must win their second Group G match against Iran to take control of their World Cup fate. The match kicks off at 21:00 in Los Angeles, where all four teams in the group currently have three points. Thomas Meunier stressed the urgency of the situation during an RTBF interview. "We must win this match to put ourselves in a strong position in the overall standings," he said. "We created plenty of chances in the first game. Even if we could have conceded two goals, we could have scored five." Meunier acknowledged early struggles but remained upbeat about Belgium’s potential. The Lille right-back highlighted specific issues from the opening fixture. "We lost too many balls and duels, lacked aggression, and the momentum wasn’t there at times. There was perhaps some early-tournament nerves. We’re eager to play this second match." Meunier believes Belgium can produce a performance that serves as a statement to future opponents.

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Rudi Garcia’s side will be without Jérémy Doku, who is sidelined for this game. "We’ll have to play without Jérémy Doku—he’s a clear asset," Meunier said. "I hope he’s back for the next match against New Zealand. We shouldn’t underestimate Iran. If we compare the two teams, we must tell ourselves we have to win."

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The Belgian squad has praised the new Los Angeles venue. "We toured the stadium—it’s exceptional. It looks like it holds 100,000 but it’s 70,000. The architecture is very modern, just like the training facilities. Everything is modern, beautiful, and functional. This is America," Meunier said. Meunier also welcomed improved pitch conditions. "The grass in Seattle was far too long—the sprinklers barely lasted two minutes in the heat. It made it hard to play against the opponent. Here in Los Angeles, the grass is shorter. For me, the conditions are much more favorable," he added.