Iran and Belgium’s World Cup 2026 group match in Los Angeles is set to be played under special U.S. security measures amid heightened political sensitivities.
U.S. security agencies are preparing special measures for Iran and Belgium’s World Cup 2026 group match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, a fixture carrying added sensitivity because of geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran, the Iranian sports outlet Varzesh3 reported.
The match is scheduled for 22:30 on Sunday night and is one of the more closely watched games in Group 7 after both teams drew in the opening round. The sporting stakes are already significant, but the security arrangements around the fixture have added another layer of attention.
Varzesh3, citing Belgian media, reported that U.S. security authorities are not taking risks around the match despite a temporary ceasefire. The report said the Belgian football federation received a reassuring message from the FBI, telling team officials: “Everything is under our control.”
Belgium’s plans are expected to continue unchanged. The Belgian delegation is due to travel to Los Angeles early Friday local time, according to the report, and the team is allowed to remain in the city until Monday.
The report described a different arrangement for Iran, saying Amir Ghalenoei’s squad must leave the United States immediately after the match. No further detail was provided in the captured report on the basis for that restriction.
Belgium’s federation has also permitted players’ relatives and friends to visit the team hotel, the Torrance Marriott Redondo Beach, after the Iran match. As part of the security process, Belgian officials have provided U.S. security personnel with a full list of the people expected to visit the team’s accommodation, Varzesh3 reported.
The fixture now brings together two pressures at once: a consequential early World Cup group-stage match and a security environment shaped by broader diplomatic tensions. For both teams, the immediate task remains the same — turning an opening draw into a result that can shape the rest of their Group 7 campaign.
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