Iran earned a deserved point against 10-man Belgium, moving to the top of Group G after a 0-0 draw in Los Angeles.
Off-field disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East has complicated Iran’s tournament preparations, with travel and visa issues, but the squad looked galvanized on the pitch. The draw, added to Iran’s 2-2 opener with New Zealand, leaves them ahead of Belgium on goals scored; New Zealand face Egypt next and Iran’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage remain very much alive.
The match turned into a test of resilience for Iran and a lesson in missed chances for Belgium. Iran defended doggedly, blocking shots and producing key interventions, while goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made several brilliant stops — most notably keeping out Maxim De Cuyper at close range when it looked certain to be a goal. Thibaut Courtois also produced important saves as Iran carried a real threat on the break.
Mehdi Taremi thought he had given Iran the lead with a well-worked free-kick, but VAR flagged an offside and the goal was ruled out. The game shifted further in Iran’s favour just after the hour when Belgium’s Nathan Ngoy miskicked a back pass and then brought down Taremi, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity; referee Dario Herrera showed a straight red.
Despite ending the game with 10 men, Belgium still piled forward and finished with 23 shots and an expected goals (xG) of about 1.8, but they lacked finishing quality. Romelu Lukaku was particularly off colour, struggling for sharpness after a disrupted club season, and Jeremy Doku was absent through illness. Kevin De Bruyne offered glimpses of his class and Leandro Trossard worked hard on the left, while Maxim De Cuyper had several chances that might have decided the match.
Sky Sports analysis described this Belgian side as the tail end of a golden generation: talented but fading, creating opportunities without the clinical edge to convert them into goals. Iran, by contrast, looked compact, organised and hard to breakdown, their goalkeeper and defence earning them a valuable clean sheet.
Key moments
– 14′ Courtois saves from Hossein Kanani.
– 22′ Beiranvand denies a powerful Youri Tielemans strike.
– 25′ Taremi goal ruled out for offside after VAR check.
– 44′ Beiranvand keeps out Maxim De Cuyper’s volley.
– 53′ Courtois saves a Taremi volley.
– 59′ Beiranvand, on the floor, somehow blocks De Cuyper at close range.
– 66′ Ngoy sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity after a miskicked back pass.
What it means
Belgium remain level on points with Iran but sit below them on goals scored, having now failed to score for the second World Cup game running after their opener. Iran have momentum and a firmer path to the last 16 if they can maintain their defensive discipline and take chances when they come. Belgium must find greater cutting edge in the final third if they are to progress from a group in which fine margins will decide places.