Belgium dominated possession and territory on a tense night in Los Angeles, but Mehdi Taremi’s disallowed goal, Alireza Beiranvand’s goalkeeping masterclass and a costly red card for Nathan Ngoy ensured Iran earned a valuable point in a dramatic 0-0 draw at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Belgium’s quest for a first win at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will go down to the last game after Rudi Garcia’s side were held to a tense and often chaotic 0-0 by Iran in a crucial Group G encounter at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.The device arrived with considerable pressure. Belgium opened their campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Egypt, while Iran shared the points in an entertaining 2-2 draw with New Zealand. With both nations widely seen as contenders to advance from the group, defeat would significantly complicate qualification hopes.What followed was a game that Belgium mostly controlled without ever quite getting it going. The Red Devils had 68 percent possession, completed 506 passes and registered 22 shots, but could not find a way past the inspired Alireza Beiranvand. Iran, meanwhile, created fewer chances but arguably created some of the most dangerous moments of the game and left California believing they could have taken all three points.
Taremi thought he had made a breakthrough before VAR intervened
Iran’s willingness to stay compact and frustrate Belgium was evident from the early stages, but they remained dangerous whenever opportunities to strike quickly arose.Their best moment in the first half came in the 25th minute through captain Mehdi Taremi.A cleverly executed free-kick routine by Ehsan Hajsafi caught the Belgian defense off guard and allowed Taremi to beat Thibaut Courtois. Iranian celebrations erupted when the ball found the net, but the joy was short-lived.After a VAR review, the goal was disallowed for offside, preserving the deadlock but serving as a warning to a Belgium side who looked increasingly vulnerable whenever Iran managed to break through the middle of the pitch.Belgium continued to dominate the ball but struggled to convert their possession into clear chances. The Iranian Defense Organization repeatedly drove them into crowded areas, while Beiranvand remained alert whenever called upon.
Beiranvand scored one of the goalkeeping performances of the tournament
The second half developed into a siege of the Iranian penalty area.Belgium pushed more, deployed more forwards and tried to overwhelm Iran with constant pressure. However, every step forward seemed to hit the same roadblock.Beiranvand produced a performance that will be remembered among the best goalkeeping displays of the tournament so far.The Iranian goalkeeper finished with seven saves and repeatedly denied Belgium from close range. His standout moment came when Maxim De Cuyper looked destined to score from close range, only for Beiranvand to react brilliantly to block the shot.As Belgium grew increasingly frustrated, the game swung dramatically in Iran’s favor midway through the half.In the 66th minute, Nathan Ngoy miscontrolled a return pass and suddenly found Taremi rushing towards the goal. The Belgian defender tried to recover, but ended up pulling the Iranian captain.The referee immediately issued a straight red card, reducing Belgium to ten men for the remainder of the competition.
Belgium survived with ten men while Iran settled for a valuable point
With a numerical advantage and almost 25 minutes to go, Iran suddenly found themselves in a position to chase victory.However, instead of going on an all-out attack, they maintained the discipline that defined their performance throughout the evening. Their defensive structure remained intact, while Belgium, despite being down a player, continued to aggressively compete for every ball.The closing stages became increasingly frantic as both sides searched for the decisive moment, but neither could produce the finishing touch they desired.When the final whistle blew, Belgium had finished with 22 shots compared to the Iranians’ seven, while the possession statistics read 68 to 32 per cent in favor of the Europeans. Belgium also recorded seven shots on goal to Iran’s three and completed more than three times as many passes.However, none of those figures were converted into goals.
Group G remains one of the most unpredictable groups at the World Cup
The draw leaves Group G delicately poised for the final round of matches.Belgium and Iran now have two points after recording two draws in their first two meetings. Meanwhile, Egypt and New Zealand remain on one point each, with the second round match yet to be played.It’s incredible that every Group G game played so far has ended in a draw.Belgium opened with a 1-1 draw against Egypt. Iran followed with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand. Now Belgium and Iran shared the points in a goalless stalemate.The result means that the group remains completely open.Belgium will face New Zealand knowing that anything less than a win could leave them facing the possibility of a second straight World Cup exit. Iran, meanwhile, remain firmly in contention and will take on Egypt with their qualification hopes firmly in their hands.For Belgium, the evening will be remembered as an evening of frustration and missed opportunities. For Iran, it was a performance built on resilience, organization and a goalkeeping display from Beiranvand who kept one of the tournament favorites at bay for 90 demanding minutes.With one match remaining, no nation has secured progress, no nation has been eliminated and Group G remains one of the most evenly matched stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
