FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group G, Match 39 | Sunday, 21 June 2026 Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, California | Referee: TBC
Belgium have now played two World Cup games. They have not scored a single open-play goal. Not one. The only goal they have was an own goal gifted to them by Mohamed Hany in their draw with Egypt. Twenty-three shots against Iran on Sunday. Seven on target. Alireza Beiranvand saved every single one of them.
Belgium 0-0 Iran. Two points from two games. Iran leading Group G. The pressure on Rudi Garcia is enormous.
The match had everything except a goal. A disallowed Iran strike in the 25th minute. A red card for Nathan Ngoy in the 66th. A point-blank save from Beiranvand to deny De Cuyper early in the second half that will go down as one of the saves of the tournament. Two goalkeepers — Courtois and Beiranvand — both refusing to be beaten when it mattered.
Before the match, there had been a diplomatic subplot that dominated the build-up. The United States refused to ease strict visa and travel restrictions for the Iranian delegation, prompting Iran to file an urgent complaint with FIFA. The players had faced genuine uncertainty about whether they could even enter the country in time for the game. They arrived in Los Angeles with barely enough time to prepare. And then Beiranvand went out and produced a performance for the ages. Context matters. That was not a normal set of circumstances for any group of athletes to manage.
Iran could actually have won this. Taremi had the ball in the net in the 25th minute — turning expertly and finishing past Courtois after Hajisafi’s clever reverse pass from a free-kick. The offside flag went up. He was level with the last defender but the replay showed it was marginal. On another day it stands.
Belgium dominated possession for most of the first hour. Sixty percent. Six hundred and twenty-two passes. Kevin De Bruyne tried to find pockets, Lukaku moved and held the ball up, Doku drove at Iran’s defenders. None of it could break Beiranvand’s resistance. The Iranian goalkeeper made two particularly important stops in the first half from Kanani-level efforts — positioning himself perfectly, never flustered, never panicked.
Then Ngoy. In the 66th minute, Taremi broke clear through the Belgian midfield. Ngoy — a late substitute — misjudged his position and brought the striker down. Clear through on goal. Straight red card. Belgium with ten men for the final 24 minutes.
The logic of football said Iran should win from there. Down to ten men against an opponent who had been causing enough problems already. But Belgium actually went close after the red card — De Cuyper drove a powerful side-footed effort that Beiranvand threw himself across to collect. The save was extraordinary. Seven for the night. Player of the Match with no argument.
Courtois matched him. Both Kanani and Taremi — testing him with powerfully struck volleys from long throws that Belgium’s defence struggled to deal with — forced important stops from the PSG goalkeeper. Both men were unbeatable. The game deserved a goal. It did not get one.
Late efforts came and went. Lukaku was replaced by Theate in the 73rd minute. De Bruyne was removed for Fernandez-Pardo at 87′. Mechele had a shot at 90+3′. Lukebakio at 90+5′. Ezatolahi fired on target for Iran at 81′. Moghanloo came on for Ghoddos. Hosseinzadeh for Ezatolahi at 85′. Nothing. The referee’s whistle ended it.
Iran sit top of Group G on two points. Belgium are second on two points. New Zealand and Egypt are below them. On the final matchday, all four teams can still qualify and all four teams can still finish top. Belgium face New Zealand. Iran face Egypt. It is completely open.
For Belgium, the situation is genuinely alarming. Two games, zero open-play goals, a red card that cost them their best chance of winning, and their captain — De Bruyne — visibly frustrated. Garcia said he takes responsibility. The question is whether his players believe him.
For Iran, the result — achieved despite the travel disruption, despite the political backdrop, despite everything their squad has had to navigate just to be in Los Angeles — is something to be enormously proud of. Beiranvand was magnificent. The defensive organisation was superb. They arrived as underdogs and leave sitting top of their group.
For live World Cup scores from every group, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full results, standings and knockout bracket at the official FIFA World Cup website.
Belgium 0-0 Iran FIFA World Cup 2026, Group G, Match 39 | Sunday, 21 June 2026 Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Goals: None Red Card: Nathan Ngoy 66′ (Belgium, serious foul play on Taremi — clear goalscoring opportunity) Disallowed: Taremi 25′ (Iran, offside)
Belgium: Courtois; defenders; De Bruyne (Fernandez-Pardo 87′), Ngoy, Lukaku (Theate 73′), De Cuyper, Doku, Vanaken Iran: Beiranvand; Mohammadi, Chesmi, Rezaeian, Hajisafi; Ezatolahi (Hosseinzadeh 85′), Mousavi; Ghoddos (Moghanloo 79′), Karimi; Taremi, Kanani
Stats: Possession Belgium 59% — Iran 30% (11% contested) | Attempts 23-7 | Shots on Target 7-3 | xG Belgium 1.82 — Iran 0.63 | Saves Beiranvand 7 | Half-time: 0-0
Group G standings: Iran 2 pts | Belgium 2 pts | New Zealand 1 pt | Egypt 1 pt
