Belgium’s Jérémy Doku will not play in the World Cup match against Iran on Sunday due to illness, according to ESPN, the Manchester City winger was ruled out by the Red Devils for the match at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area. Coach Rudi Garcia confirmed the absence but did not provide further details about Doku’s condition.

Medical Concerns and Tactical Changes

Garcia emphasized that the medical staff made the decision based on Doku’s condition; “I don’t want to get players to play if they’re not medically up for the game,” he said. Doku started Belgium’s World Cup opener against Egypt and played until the 86th minute of a 1-1 draw, though he had also left a practice session early due to breathing issues earlier in the week. Garcia indicated that Romelu Lukaku will likely come off the bench again, though he did not name a specific replacement for Doku.

Doku has been in the spotlight for other reasons as well; he told reporters that he may leave the team if necessary for the birth of his first child during the World Cup. His wife is due in early July, during the knockout stages of the tournament.

World Cup Group Stage Overview

As reported by WELT. The second round of matches in Groups G and H will take place in the night of June 21 to 22 — Belgium’s match against Iran is scheduled for Sunday at 21:00. The four matches will be broadcast by different channels, including ZDF and Magenta TV for the Belgium-Iran game; all eight teams in the groups remain winless so far, creating high stakes for each match.

Spain faces Saudi Arabia in the first match of the evening, followed by Belgium-Iran, and then matches involving Uruguay and Neuseeland, though Spain is under pressure after a surprise 0-0 draw with Cape Verde. The team needs to improve its performance, as it has not scored in over 300 minutes of play so far in the World Cup.

Strategic Expectations for the Match

According to Goal.com. Both Belgium and Iran are aware that the match in southern California is key for breaking the deadlock in Group G; Both teams drew their opening matches—Belgium 1-1 with Egypt in Seattle and Iran 2-2 with New Zealand in Los Angeles. Physical recovery and mental momentum after those demanding debuts will define their chances of advancing.

Belgium’s coach, Rudi García, needs to quickly find cohesion in his team, which only showed strength when Romelu Lukaku came on against Egypt. He will rely on Kevin De Bruyne to control the midfield and set a possession-based rhythm. On the other side, Iran, coached by Amir Ghalenoei, is known for its solid defense and lethal counterattacks. After two-time comebacks against New Zealand, the Team Melli is expected to continue its defensive resilience and quick transitions.

The match at SoFi Stadium will likely come down to tactical adjustments. Both teams must avoid central collapses, making communication and precision in the final third decisive. Belgium seeks to reaffirm its status as a favorite, while Iran aims to exploit its deadly counterattacks. With qualification options taking shape, every decision from the opening whistle will be critical for both sides.