Spain and Iran to face off in World Cup 2026 match on day 11
June 21, 2026 • Al Jazeera
Here is the rewritten article in a neutral newsroom style:
Day 11 of the FIFA World Cup features a key match between Spain and Saudi Arabia, as well as Germany’s advancement to the knockout stage. The tournament’s 11th day also sees Curacao earn their first point.
Spain, the reigning European champions, will face Saudi Arabia in the headline event. Iran will play Belgium on Sunday, while Uruguay takes on Cape Verde and New Zealand faces Egypt. These matches are crucial for each team’s progression in the tournament.
According to Opta’s supercomputer, Spain has an 86.7 percent probability of winning against Saudi Arabia, with a 4.3 percent chance of victory for the latter. A draw is possible with a 9 percent probability. Belgium has a 67.5 percent probability of winning their match, while Iran has a 13.2 percent chance.
The US will continue to assess travel arrangements for its team in Iran, despite the team’s complaint to FIFA. The restrictions have caused controversy, with coach Amir Ghalenoei describing his side as “the most oppressed team” in the tournament.
Meanwhile, France supporters were warned not to touch Philadelphia’s Rocky Balboa statue due to a string of sporting misfortunes involving teams whose fans draped the statue in their colors. The official France supporters group issued this warning to avoid attracting bad luck.
In other news, Belgium’s Jeremy Doku is expecting his first child during the World Cup and may face a dilemma about attending the birth.
Source: Al Jazeera