| Sportsbook | Belgium | Draw | Iran |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betovo | 1.42 | 4.77 | 8.5 |
| Zoccer | 1.45 | 4.65 | 8.4 |
| Sports Interaction | 1.44 | 4.69 | 7.63 |
| Tonybet | 1.45 | 4.45 | 8.1 |
| Betway | 1.4 | 4.5 | 7 |
| Goals | Over 2.5 | Under 2.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Best | 1.9 | 2.08 |
Belgium’s golden generation has thinned but this squad still carries genuine match-winning talent. Kevin De Bruyne remains the best playmaker in the tournament — his late diagonal passes into Lukaku’s run are unstoppable when the service arrives at the right tempo. Their 4-2-3-1 under Domenico Tedesco is more defensively sound than the Martinez era, with Witsel’s successor Onana offering protection in front of the back four. De Bruyne’s ability to find Doku in wide channels creates an immediate danger whenever Belgium win possession higher up the pitch. Belgium have experience and quality that should see off Iran comfortably. Why this matters: Belgium at ~1.45 is fair price for a team with their ceiling.
Iran are a disciplined, well-coached unit under Carlos Queiroz and they should not be underestimated. Their 4-5-1 out of possession is compact and hard to break down. Mehdi Taremi is a genuine European-level striker who will find space in Belgium’s defensive transitions. Sardar Azmoun’s physical presence offers a plan B. The issue is Iran will be forced to absorb pressure for long stretches and their fullbacks will be pinned by Doku’s pace. They concede set-pieces too often and Belgium’s delivery from wide areas will be a constant threat. Why this matters: the BTTS market at ~1.90 is interesting given Taremi’s goal threat on the counter.
De Bruyne pulls the strings and Belgium’s quality in the final third should be enough for the win. But Iran will threaten — Taremi will get a chance on the break and the score will stay competitive until late. Belgium to win but both teams to score at ~3.50 is the value market here. Iran don’t roll over quietly.
Cole Gallagher covers soccer betting for WorldCupBetting.ca, specialising in match predictions, odds analysis and tournament futures. Based in Toronto, he has followed the Canadian men’s national team since their 2022 qualifying campaign and brings a line-shopping, data-first approach to every pick.