Belgium 0-0 Iran: Beiranvand Denies Ten-Man Belgium

Belgium still haven't had a single one of their own players score at this World Cup, and now they're hunting for that breakthrough with ten men too.

The Red Devils were held to a frustrating Belgium vs Iran final score of 0-0 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, with Alireza Beiranvand standing tall in the Iran goal and Nathan Ngoy's 66th-minute red card turning an already nervy afternoon into a survival mission. It's the kind of result that leaves more questions than answers about Rudi Garcia's side heading into the final group game.

What Happened in LA

This was Group G's third goalless draw of the tournament, and honestly, the closest thing to box-office drama came from the goalkeepers rather than the strikers. Belgium dominated the ball, as expected, but Belgium 0-0 Iran tells the real story all that possession, none of the payoff.

Iran actually had the better of the early chances. Mehdi Taremi thought he'd broken the deadlock when he turned home a clever reverse pass from Ehsan Hajsafi's free-kick to beat Thibaut Courtois only for the goal to be chalked off after a VAR review confirmed Taremi had been narrowly offside in the build-up. It was a gut-punch moment for Iran, who were left wondering what might have been.

From there, Alireza Beiranvand saves vs Belgium became the headline of the match. Beiranvand made seven saves in total, including a remarkable reflex stop at point-blank range to deny Belgium's De Cuyper in the 59th minute. He wasn't the only busy keeper, either Courtois had to be alert too, with both Hossein Kanani and Taremi forcing him into sharp saves in either half off long throws that Belgium struggled to deal with.

Why Nathan Ngoy Was Sent Off

The turning point and the reason most fans are searching Nathan Ngoy red card vs Iran this morning came just after the hour mark. Ngoy's momentary lapse of concentration on the ball surrendered possession to Taremi, and the Belgian defender brought the striker down when he was clear through on goal, leaving the referee with little choice but to reach for red.

That decision reduced Belgium to ten men for roughly the final 25 minutes, and you'd have expected Iran to pounce. Instead, it was Belgium who kept pushing hardest for a winner. Beiranvand had to deny De Cuyper a second time, turning away another golden chance in the 86th minute a save that summed up Iran's night perfectly.

Belgium vs Iran Match Stats

Source: ESPN match report

Numbers like 23 shots and 1.82 xG without a single goal are damning for a side with Belgium's attacking pedigree. Two games in, it's already a real concern.

The Bigger Picture: A Stalling Golden Generation

Here's the part that should really worry Belgium fans. Sunday's stalemate extended their winless run at the World Cup to four straight matches, stretching back to a loss to Morocco and a draw with Croatia at the tail end of their disappointing 2022 campaign. Garcia's men went into the match without winger Jérémy Doku, who missed the game due to illness, and the lack of his pace and unpredictability was felt in the final third.

Striker Romelu Lukaku didn't hide his frustration afterward. "We have to analyse what went wrong because we created so many chances without scoring, and that's frustrating," he said, adding that the team played "with too much emotion in key moments," according to comments relayed in FIFA's official match report. Garcia was more measured, noting Belgium has historically scored more freely in matches like this and that they "know exactly what result" they'll need against New Zealand next.

For Iran, the mood is the opposite. Coach Amir Ghalehnoei called it "a very exciting game" where "both teams deserved to win," and singled out Beiranvand by name for special praise and it's hard to argue after that performance.

Belgium vs Iran Group G Standings

The draw leaves things tight, but not quite even. Per the FIFA World Cup standings, both Belgium and Iran sit on two points from two games but Iran provisionally top the group on the head-to-head tiebreaker, having scored twice in their opener against New Zealand while Belgium's only goal so far came via an own goal. That edge could matter in this 48-team format, the top two finishers in each group advance automatically to the Round of 32, while the eight best third-place teams across all groups grab the remaining spots. A win for Belgium over New Zealand would settle the question outright anything less could leave their fate in the hands of other results and tiebreakers. Egypt and New Zealand were still to play their second match in Vancouver at the time of writing, so this picture could shift again within hours.

What's Next for Belgium and Iran

Both sides now turn to decider weekend. Belgium face New Zealand on June 26 in Vancouver, while Iran travel to Seattle to take on Egypt the same day both matches kicking off simultaneously, per Yahoo Sports' World Cup schedule. Belgium will also be without Ngoy through suspension, adding another headache to Garcia's defensive plans.

Are Belgium eliminated from World Cup 2026? Not yet but two draws and zero wins from two games means a win against New Zealand is close to mandatory if they want control of their own fate. Iran, meanwhile, are chasing something they've never managed in seven World Cup appearances: a place in the knockout rounds. Beat Egypt on Friday and Team Melli will finally get there.

Whatever happens, Group G is set up for a properly chaotic final matchday. Nobody's safe, and nobody's out.