Fans provided mixed reactions to the inclusion of striker Romelu Lukaku in Belgium‘s starting XI for their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G clash with Iran at Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, on Sunday (June 21).
The Red Devils are coming off a 1-1 draw with Egypt in their campaign opener last week in Seattle. Emam Ashour’s 20th-minute strike was cancelled out by his teammate Mohamed Hany midway through the second period as a share of the spoils ensued.
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Lukaku came off the bench in the Egypt game and played a part in the equalising goal as Rudi Garcia’s side avoided defeat. His performance was apparently enough for Garcia to include the striker for the Iran game, which hasn’t gone down well with some fans.
“Lukaku is starting… just send us home…,” one tweeted.
“2026 De Bruyne and Lukaku are starting games in a World Cup. Don’t think we should worry about Belgium,” another commented.
“Lukaku starting upfront means Iran’s center-backs are about to have the easiest night of their lives,” one posted.
However, not everyone was unhappy to see Lukaku starting against Iran.
“Lukaku is starting today, I see him scoring a brace,” one wrote.
However, one tweeted:
“Lukaku still plays ball? 😭😭😭.”
“Lukaku starting and he goes up against “Shoja Khalilzadeh”,” one posted.
Lukaku is the Red Devils’ all-time top scorer with 90 goals in 127 games, including five at the FIFA World Cup, where the 33-year-old is making his fourth appearance. Four of those strikes came in the 2014 edition in Brazil, where Belgium finished third.
Belgium without Jeremy Doku for Iran clash at 2026 FIFA World Cup
Belgium attacker Jeremy Doku is out of the second 2026 FIFA World Cup group game against Iran due to a respiratory infection, as confirmed by the team on social media.
As per Sporza (via ANI), the Manchester City man missed a training session in California, having been plagued by breathing difficulties in recent weeks. He has now been put on an antibiotics course.
“It’s better to let him rest now and then work towards the last group match against New Zealand,” Belgium sporting director Vincent Mannaert said.
The 24-year-old played 86 minutes in the campaign-opening draw with Egypt before coming off for Matias Fernandez-Pardo. He could also miss the knockouts, with his wife expecting their first child in the first week of July (as per The Whistler).
Edited by Bhargav
