Belgium Unable to Beat Iran While a Man Down at 2026 World Cup
In another Group G match, the Belgians, reduced to ten men after Nathan Ngoi's red card, played out a 0-0 draw with Iran. Both goalkeepers—Thibaut Courtois and Alireza Beiranvand—had brilliant games, with the Iranian shot-stopper named Man of the Match.
Belgium and Iran played out a goalless drama: red card, disallowed goal, and a goalkeeping masterclass at the 2026 World Cup
The national teams of Belgium and Iran failed to entertain the crowd with goals in the second round of the 2026 World Cup group stage, but the match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (USA) was dramatic and eventful. The game ended 0-0, but over 90 minutes everything happened: a disallowed goal, phenomenal saves from both keepers, and a sending-off that left one of the group favorites a man down.
Main event: fateful red card and goalkeeping masterclass
The match started with Belgium dictating play, seizing the initiative from the first minutes and keeping possession for almost 80% of the time. However, the Red Devils faced a disciplined Iranian defense that opted for a defensive block with counterattacking intentions.
The key moment of the first half came in the 25th minute when Mehdi Taremi, after a clever free-kick routine, slotted the ball into Thibaut Courtois's net. Iran celebrated the goal, but after a VAR review, it was disallowed for offside against the Inter striker—as commentators later noted, by the "tip of his toe."
In the second half, the game reached boiling point. In the 59th minute, Maxim De Cuyper fired a close-range shot at Iran's goal, but 33-year-old goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made an incredible save, which many called the best of the tournament.
The climax came in the 66th minute: Belgian defender Nathan Ngoi lost the ball in his own half, allowing Taremi to go one-on-one with Courtois. The 22-year-old fouled the Iranian striker from behind, and referee Dario Herrera did not hesitate to show a straight red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Belgium played with ten men for almost half an hour, but Iran failed to capitalize on the numerical advantage—Courtois saved his team several times, and the match ended goalless.
Details and stats: goalkeepers are the main heroes
The final score was 0-0, but the stats tell a story of intense battle:
| Metric | Belgium | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | ~80% | ~20% |
| Shots | 17 | 9 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 4 |
| Saves | 4 | 7 |
Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid's goalkeeper, played his 17th World Cup match, equaling the record of Belgian legend Enzo Scifo. However, the hero of the evening was his counterpart Alireza Beiranvand.
Beiranvand, who plays for Iranian club Tractor Sazi, made 7 saves and was named FIFA Man of the Match. This is the second-best performance by an Iranian goalkeeper in World Cup history—the record belongs to Nasser Hejazi, who made 8 saves against the Netherlands in 1978.
Context and significance: Group G heats up
After two rounds, Group G is extremely tight. Belgium and Iran both have 2 points, with Iran temporarily leading due to a better goal difference. Egypt and New Zealand (1 point each) will play their match later.
Group G standings after two rounds:
| Team | GP | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Belgium | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Egypt | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 |
For Belgium, this is a disappointment—the "golden generation" under Domenico Tedesco (now Rudi Garcia) continues to decline. In the first round, the Belgians barely snatched a draw against Egypt (1-1), and now their knockout stage qualification is in jeopardy. Iran, on the other hand, confirms its status as a solid mid-tier team capable of taking points from favorites, despite preparation issues. The Iranian Football Federation even plans to file a complaint with FIFA over difficulties encountered in the USA.
What's next / Preview of the next match
In the final round of the group stage, on June 27, Belgium will face New Zealand, while Iran will play against Egypt. For the Red Devils, this match is effectively a final: only a win guarantees advancement. Iran, with an advantage on tiebreakers, would be satisfied with a draw against Egypt if Belgium does not beat New Zealand by a large margin.
Editorial prediction
Belgium remains the favorite against New Zealand, but their performance raises serious questions. The absence of Jérémy Doku, who could not help the team due to health issues, noticeably reduced attacking sharpness. Rudi Garcia must find a solution to the finishing problem—17 shots with only 6 on target indicates low efficiency from the attacking group led by Romelu Lukaku and Leandro Trossard. Meanwhile, Iran, showing character and discipline, could cause a sensation and advance to the knockout stage if they at least avoid defeat against Egypt. Group G is turning into a true "Group of Death," where every third-round match will be decisive. Our prediction: Belgium beats New Zealand by a narrow margin, while Iran and Egypt draw, sending the Red Devils home on goal difference—unless the Belgians win by a large score.
— Editorial Team
