Key Points
- Iran and Belgium drew 0-0 in Group G at Los Angeles Stadium on June 21.
- Belgium's Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the second half, reducing them to 10 men.
- Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves to preserve the point.
- Egypt lead Group G on four points; Iran and Belgium sit on two before the final round.
Belgium arrived at the 2026 World Cup with one of the deepest talent pools in the field and left Los Angeles Stadium with another goalless afternoon and a man fewer than they started with. Iran held the Red Devils to a 0-0 draw on June 21, a point Iran earned with a clean sheet against a Belgium side that has now gone two games without scoring.
How it played out
Iran thought they had the lead in the first half when Mehdi Taremi turned in a well-worked free kick, only for VAR to rule it offside. The game tilted further Iran's way after the break when Nathan Ngoy was sent off for hauling down a striker after a mishit back-pass, leaving Belgium to chase a winner with ten men. They could not find one. Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was the difference, making seven saves to keep a clean sheet against a side stacked with attacking names.
What it means
Belgium now face the real possibility of a group-stage exit for a second straight World Cup, their goal drought stretching across the opening fixtures of a tournament they were tipped to navigate easily. Egypt lead Group G on four points after beating New Zealand 3-1; Iran and Belgium sit level on two heading into the final round, with all four still in contention. The wider picture is unflattering for Belgium: while the Golden Boot race already has a cluster of forwards on two and three goals, one of the tournament's most gifted attacking sides still has not scored.
Source: Al Jazeera, ESPN
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