England’s quest to go one step further than their run to the Euro 2020 final last year gets underway against Iran, as Gareth Southgate’s side bid for World Cup glory.
Despite an impressive run at their last major tournament, the Three Lions go into the World Cup winless in six matches — their longest winless streak since June 1993.
With matches against Wales and USA to come, England will be hoping to avoid any slip-ups against an Iran side who have only ever won two matches in six World Cup appearances.
Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for England vs. Iran at the 2022 World Cup. Follow below for complete results from the Group B match in Qatar.
MORE: England vs. Iran prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for World Cup 2022
England vs. Iran score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| England | — | — | — |
| Iran | — | — | — |
Goals:
None
Projected lineups:
England (3-4-2-1, right to left): 1. Pickford (GK) – 5. Stones, 15. Dier, 7. Maguire – 3. Shaw, 4. Rice, 22. Bellingham, 12. Trippier – 10. Sterling, 20. Foden – 9. Kane
Iran (4-1-3-2, right to left): 1. Beiranvand (GK) – 2. Moharrami, 13. Kanaani, 19. Hosseini, 3. Hajsafi – 6. Ezatolahi – 17. Gholizadeh, 21. Nourollahi, 7. Jahanbakhsh – 9. Taremi, 10. Ansarifard
MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)
England vs. Iran live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup
4hrs 30 from kickoff: For England fans there is a sense of mixed anticipation for this game. Almost 18 months on from their Euro 2020 final heartbreak, the Three Lions have an updated squad, with some exciting attacking personnel, such as Bellingham and Maddison, but on the flip side a distinct lack of recent form. Then there is the history of major tournament what-might-have-beens. Could this finally be the time for football to ‘come home’?
Time to unite. Time to write a new chapter. pic.twitter.com/ahjmgY60jL
— England (@England) November 21, 2022
5 hrs from kickoff: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of the Group B opener between England and Iran. If yesterday’s opening match between Qatar and Ecuador got you excited for what’s to come over the next few weeks, then you should know that this match is the first of three exciting encounters today. Let’s get going!
Fresh hopes. 💪
Fresh trims. 💈
Same ambitions. 👊@FIFAWorldCup 2022…. Let’s do this! pic.twitter.com/dHuwqKAe9Z— England (@England) November 19, 2022
England vs. Iran lineups, team news
For this opening game, England will be without Kyle Walker, who ruled himself out as he makes his way back from groin surgery, while James Maddison also won’t be risked. Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold will be the prime candidates to replace the Man City right-back Walker.
Trippier gets the nod in our projected lineup to fill the Walker-shaped void over Alexander-Arnold, due to his superior club form and history of being picked under Southgate
Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are also highly likely to start as the midfield pair, with Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden ahead of them, though Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka could also be in line to start.
England (3-4-2-1, right to left): 1. Pickford (GK) – 5. Stones, 15. Dier, 7. Maguire – 3. Shaw, 4. Rice, 22. Bellingham, 12. Trippier – 10. Sterling, 20. Foden – 9. Kane
- Injured: Kyle Walker. Doubts: Kalvin Phillips, James Maddison
- Suspended: n/a
Iran are sweating on the fitness of their star striker Sardar Azmoun. The prolific forward hasn’t played for club side Bayer Leverkusen since the end of September with a calf tear, and he missed their warmup match against Nicaragua on November 10.
We are predicting that star man Azmoun won’t be risked for the opening match and instead saved for the later games that will be more crucial to Iran’s chances of progressing.
It puts lot of extra pressure on other star performers Mehdi Taremi and Alireza Jahanbakhsh to provide the attacking spark going forward, though they face a weakened England backline, with some players who are out of form for their club sides.
Iran (4-1-3-2, right to left): 1. Beiranvand (GK) – 2. Moharrami, 13. Kanaani, 19. Hosseini, 3. Hajsafi – 6. Ezatolahi – 17. Gholizadeh, 21. Nourollahi, 7. Jahanbakhsh – 9. Taremi, 10. Ansarifard
- Injured: Sardar Azmoun
- Suspended: n/a
England vs. Iran live stream, TV channel
The match will start at 4 p.m. local time at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, which was built in 1976 and provided the setting for two FIFA Club World Cup matches in 2019.
| Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Monday, Nov. 21 | 08:00 ET | Fox, Telemundo | fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Peacock |
| Canada | Monday, Nov. 21 | 08:00 EST | CTV, TSN | TSN app |
| UK | Monday, Nov. 21 | 13:00 GMT | BBC One | BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website |
| Australia | Tuesday, Nov. 22 | 00:00 AEDT | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| India | Monday, Nov. 21 | 18:30 IST | Sports18 | Voot, JioTV |
| Hong Kong | Monday, Nov. 21 | 21:00 HKT | — | Now TV |
| Malaysia | Monday, Nov. 21 | 21:00 MYT | Astro, RTM | Astro Go, RTMKlik |
| Singapore | Monday, Nov. 21 | 21:00 SGT | Channel 5 | MeWatch, Singtel, StarHub |
| New Zealand | Tuesday, Nov. 22 | 02:00 NZDT | Sky Sport | Sky Go |