• This will be New Zealand and Egypt’s first World Cup meeting – it will also be New Zealand’s first World Cup match against a team from Africa.
• New Zealand have drawn each of their last four FIFA World Cup games (all three in 2010 and vs Iran in 2026). Only Belgium have ever played out five successive draws at the finals (1998 to 2002).
• Mohamed Salah has scored (2) or assisted (1) each of Egypt’s last three FIFA World Cup goals – he has more goal involvements at the finals than any other player for the nation (3).

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Sutton
Former England forward's World Cup predictions

New Zealand's Motherwell midfielder Elijah Just showed what a good player he is against Iran - he is so effective in tight areas.

And of course I was delighted that 'The Woodchopper', Chris Wood, made both his goals. What an impact he had.

I don't see New Zealand getting anything here, however. Egypt's counter-attack was very effective against Belgium, with Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah flying forward.

New Zealand centre-half Michael Boxall is 37 and really lacks pace. I think he might be exposed.

Another game in Group G means another Chris Sutton prediction!

Next up, it's New Zealand v Egypt...

Shaimaa Khalil
LA Correspondent at Los Angeles Stadium

I have spoken to Iranian American Samaneh who has been in the USA for 10 years about her feelings for the national team:

"It’s complicated. I’m here to support Iran, not the regime - I’m here for my country. I miss Iran.

"I cried when our national anthem played. But there are so many conflicting feelings - my dad is here but my mom is stuck in Iran because of paperwork and the ban by President Trump.

"I'm so worried about her but I am also too scared to go and visit her."

Regan Morris
Reporting from Los Angeles

The White House is considering changing the strict travel restrictions Iran are facing at the 2026 World Cup.

Iran are allowed to fly into the United States, who are co-hosts along with Canada and Mexico, a day before they have a game and have to leave the country on the same day as the match under the conditions of their visas.

This led to head coach Amir Ghalenoei saying they are the "most oppressed" team at the tournament following a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles in their opening game.

However, Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, says there are "discussions going on" about the timings for their travel to and from their third group match, which takes place in Seattle against Egypt on 27 June.

The Iran team is based in Mexico for the tournament and Giuliani said it was reasonable that the squad operated under the restricted travel for their first two matches in Los Angeles - a 30 minute flight away. However, since the Seattle flight would be up to three hours they are "in discussions" to make changes.

Read more here.

A fine evening is expected for the Belgium vs Iran match in Los Angeles. It'll be dry with scattered clouds and a temperature around 20C at kick-off time. However, the humidity will be around 70%, so conditions will be quite muggy.

Chris Sutton
Former England forward's World Cup predictions

Iran played well against New Zealand and deserved their draw but, from watching that game, I think they will struggle to contain Belgium - I just don't see them being able to handle Jeremy Doku.

Romelu Lukaku came on to rescue a draw for Belgium against Egypt but they played some good football and we know they have got players who can hurt teams. I'd be surprised if they don't win this comfortably.

Well, Chris Sutton believes the Belgians don't need a golden generation to cruise past Iran later tonight...

Belgium have failed to win in their last three games in the World Cup, their last longer winless streak was from 29 June 1994 to 10 June 2002, a run of seven games.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Winger Jeremy Doku is ill and will miss Belgium's game with Iran but has been in the spotlight in the build-up to the match.

Doku has been criticised for saying he wants to leave Belgium's World Cup camp to be with his wife when she gives birth to their first child.

Doku's wife Shireen is due to give birth during the second week of July and he intends to return home even if the Red Devils are still in the tournament, which would then be at the quarter-final stage.

"It's my first child, so I ‌would ⁠definitely want to be there," the Manchester City forward, 24, told Reuters.

"If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also ​know that football ​involves many ⁠other considerations.

"I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we ​can do."

Whether Lukaku gets a start or not, one player who will not even be at the stadium tonight is Jeremy Doku...

It looks like Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has some decisions to make on who to start up top.

Watch how Romelu Lukaku made an immediate impact by playing a part in his nation's equaliser within seconds of being brought off the bench.

Romelu Lukaku made a positive impact off the bench to earn Belgium a 1-1 draw in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup against Egypt, with his presence and stretch for the ball leading to Mohamed Hany's own goal.

Charles De Ketelaere was preferred to the Napoli striker but, after Lukaku's influence off the bench, has the forward made a case for starting berth against Iran?

Image source, Getty Images

The opening games in Group G weren't anything special- with both games ending as draws.

One man who will hope to bag the goals and get Belgium's World Cup up and running is Romelu Lukaku.

Image source, Getty Images

Remaining matches in Group H:

Sunday, 21 June

• Spain v Saudi Arabia (17:00 BST)
• Uruguay v Cape Verde (23:00 BST)

Saturday, 27 June

• Cape Verde v South Africa (01:00 BST)
• Uruguay v Spain (01:00 BST)

That's all for Group H, let's head into Group G next.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

This World Cup (3.09 goals per games) is exceeding the scoring rate from Qatar four years (2.69 goals per game), with that tournament played in December to mitigate the soaring summer temperatures in the Middle East.

So could the heat in North America be leading to physical struggles - and more goals?

Of the tournament's 105 goals (after Germany's win over Ivory Coast), 30 have arrived between the 76th minute and full-time (28.6% - on pace to be the sixth-highest in history and the highest since 2014).

There have also been a high number of costly errors leading to goals.

Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri lost possession in a dangerous area against Sweden, allowing Viktor Gyokeres to score.

The North Africans committed six errors leading to shots in total, four of which resulted directly in goals, as Graham Potter's side ran out 5-1 winners in their opening game.

Elsewhere, have hydration breaks - booed by fans at some games - allowed teams to reset and then go on and score?

The mandatory three-minute breaks at all 104 games are meant to be used for players to take in liquids, but head coaches have used them to make tactical changes and issue fresh instructions to players.

Brazil were trailing Morocco 1-0 in their opening game in New Jersey but were back on level terms within 10 minutes of the restart after a first-half drinks break.

"You can tell the players what to do," said Switzerland boss Murat Yakin.

"We are able to show them images. During three minutes we can talk to them, talk about substitutions, we can talk about changes."

Perhaps Nunez, like others, are struggling with the heat.

On the other hand, should he be scoring more because the 2026 World Cup has become the fastest edition of the tournament to hit 100 goals since 1958 - with the landmark reached in the 33rd game.

Darwin Nunez can probably count himself lucky that he started last time out against Saudi Arabia, given he has barely played football since February.

The former Liverpool striker's move to the country he was playing against here has turned sour after he was omitted from Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro-League squad following the arrival of Karim Benzema midway through the season.

The 26-year-old had scored nine goals in 24 appearances but his future is now in doubt and the lack of game time saw him dropped to the bench for Uruguay's March friendlies against England and Algeria.

Yet it should be a concern for the forward at how much better Uruguay looked after the break when he was withdrawn, although he would have liked more service having recorded just eight touches, his lowest tally in a start for his national team.

Uruguay would have won this game but for the brilliance in the Saudi Arabia goal from Al Owais and it will be interesting to see if Bielsa gives Nunez another chance against Cape Verde with so much up for grabs in Group H.

Image source, Getty Images

• Cape Verde's first-ever FIFA World Cup match saw them hold Spain to a goalless draw on MD1, despite facing 27 shots over the course of almost 100 minutes played (99:06). This was the same number of attempts as Uruguay had in their tournament opener (27 v Saudi Arabia, 1- 1 draw).
• Uruguay have only lost one of their last nine group stage games at the FIFA World Cup (W6 D2), a 0-2 defeat to Portugal in 2022. Those nine matches have seen just 15 goals scored overall (11 for, 4 against), at an average of 1.7 per game.

Like Chris Sutton said, two-time world champions Uruguay won't be too happy being held to a 1-1 draw in their Group H opener at the Miami Stadium.

Watch how they came back from behind to earn the draw below.