LOS ANGELES, U.S. (AFP) – The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G clash between Belgium and Iran delivered a tense, resultless stalemate on Sunday, leaving the once top-ranked Belgian side on the brink of a second consecutive early tournament exit after being reduced to 10 players for the final stretch of the match.
Loaded with global star power but hampered by an ageing core that includes midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne and target forward Romelu Lukaku, Belgium was ultimately lucky to escape the Southern California stadium with a single point. The Red Devils dominated possession for most of 90 minutes but failed to turn that control into dangerous scoring chances, instead ceding all the match’s clearest opportunities to a defensively resolute Iran side.
Iran’s star striker Mehdi Taremi thought he had opened the scoring in the first half off a well-orchestrated set piece, but the goal was quickly overturned by VAR for offside. The turning point came in the second half, when young Belgian center-back Nathan Ngoy sent a woefully misplayed backpass toward keeper Thibaut Courtois, leaving Taremi free to race in on goal. Ngoy dragged the striker down to prevent a clear scoring opportunity, earning an immediate red card that left Belgium down a man for the rest of the encounter.
The scoreless result means all three Group G matches played to date have ended in draws, leaving the table tightly congested. Belgium sits with two points through two matches, entering its final group stage fixture against tournament lowest-ranked side New Zealand, a match that gives the Red Devils a narrow path to advance to the knockout round.
Iran also needs at least one point from its final match against Egypt next Friday in Seattle to secure progression. The side faced significant off-field disruptions leading up to the Los Angeles clash, with persistent visa issues slowing travel from its base camp in Mexico to match venues in the United States. Reports indicate those travel restrictions have now been eased, allowing Team Melli to focus fully on preparation for its decisive final group game.
For the second consecutive Iran match in this World Cup, protesters from Los Angeles’ large Persian exile community gathered outside the stadium to demonstrate against Iran’s hardline ruling government. Inside the venue, the playing of Iran’s national anthem was met with loud boos and whistles, a stark contrast to the warm reception the Iranian players themselves received from the crowd, who cheered loudly for the team throughout the match.
Iran set up in a five-man defensive formation to start the game, dropping deep into its own half and ceding territorial control to Belgium. That defensive shape let the Red Devils complete hundreds of passes around Iran’s 18-yard box, but Belgium could not break through to create any high-quality chances. Lukaku, returned to the starting lineup after a strong substitute performance in Belgium’s opening 1-1 draw with Egypt, managed only one shot effort all half: a 36th-minute header that sailed well over the crossbar.
Against the run of play, Iran claimed the two best scoring opportunities of the opening 45 minutes. First, defender Hossein Kanani fired a low shot on goal after a long throw-in, forcing a sharp save from a fully stretched Courtois. Then Taremi capitalized on a cleverly worked free-kick routine to slot the ball into the back of the net, but the VAR review wiped out the goal to the disappointment of the heavily pro-Iran crowd inside the stadium. The former Inter Milan striker had escaped Belgium’s defensive wall, spun into open space and finished cleanly before the offside call was made.
After halftime, Belgium continued to press without creating consistent danger, while Taremi nearly found the breakthrough once again. After Kanani flicked on another long throw to the striker, Courtois came up big with another critical save to keep the game scoreless.
Around the 60-minute mark, Belgian head coach Rudi Garcia made three attacking substitutions to spark his stagnant offense, and the move almost paid off immediately. Maxim De Cuyper got on the end of a cutback from De Bruyne for a point-blank effort, but Iran’s keeper turned the shot away. Just moments later, substitute Hans Vanaken blasted a rebound well over the crossbar, as the Red Devils finally began to generate consistent dangerous pressure in Iran’s final third.
That momentum shift was derailed by Ngoy’s red card, after his underhit backpass put Taremi clean through on goal. Following the sending off, the match settled into a scrappy, nervous stalemate, though De Cuyper came close to a late winner with a low shot from just outside the penalty area that went just wide.
With both teams still in the hunt for a knockout round spot, the final group stage matches next week will deliver high-stakes action for all four Group G contenders.