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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.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a display of dominant athletic prowess at the National Stadium on Sunday, Nayoka Clunis cemented her status as Jamaica’s undisputed queen of women’s hammer throw by capturing her sixth national championship crown at the annual JAAA National Championships. Clunis, a veteran who has twice represented Jamaica at the World Athletics Championships, delivered a winning throw of 68.93 meters to outpace all competitors and wrap up the top spot on the podium. The star thrower’s performance was nothing short of consistent: five of her six attempts landed beyond the 65.00-meter mark, a benchmark that far outstripped the work of her fellow competitors and highlighted her long-standing dominance in the national scene. Clunis has been in exceptional form throughout 2024, setting a new Jamaican national record of 72.03 meters during a competition in mid-April. That record-breaking throw has already pushed her to fourth place in the Commonwealth rankings, positioning her as one of the region’s top contenders for future international competitions. Behind Clunis, the battle for the remaining podium spots was clear: Britannia Johnson, a competitor representing Purdue University, took home the silver medal with a best throw of 52.70 meters, while Fabrienne Foster of the University of North Texas claimed bronze with a top mark of 48.00 meters. The result extends Clunis’ unprecedented run of success at the national level, and sets the stage for her to compete for more international honors in the coming athletic season.

ATLANTA, Ga. — The 2024 FIFA World Cup Group H campaign got a jolt of energy on Sunday, as the return of teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal unlocked reigning European champion Spain to a dominant 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Coming off a frustrating goalless draw against first-time qualifiers Cape Verde in their opening group fixture, the pre-tournament title favorites had faced growing scrutiny over their slow start and overreliance on possession without cutting-edge finishing. That narrative shifted completely within 10 minutes of kickoff, when Yamal — making his first starting appearance in two months after recovering from a hamstring injury — ended Spain’s 200-minute wait for a World Cup goal.

The Barcelona winger’s opening strike set the tone for a blistering first-half onslaught that put the game out of reach before the break. Mikel Oyarzabal, the in-form Real Sociedad forward, capitalized on two set-piece opportunities to double Spain’s lead in the 14th minute and extend the margin to 3-0 just three minutes later, sending Luis de la Fuente’s side into halftime with an unassailable advantage.

Sticking to his pre-planned minutes management for the injury-prone 18-year-old, De la Fuente withdrew Yamal at halftime, alongside Oyarzabal, to keep the pair fresh for upcoming group stage matches. Spain’s relentless attacking pressure did not let up, however, and the final blow came in the second half when a deflected effort off Saudi defender Hassan al-Tambakti slid into the back of the net for an own goal that rounded out the 4-0 scoreline.

The result catapults Spain (1 win, 1 draw, 4 points) to the top of Group C heading into the final round of group fixtures, setting up a high-stakes clash with two-time world champions Uruguay in Guadalajara next Friday. Uruguay, who entered Sunday’s play level on points with Spain, face Cape Verde later the same day in a match that will shape knockout stage qualification.

Sunday’s win also marked a memorable milestone for De la Fuente, who celebrated his 65th birthday with a statement performance that answered all critics who questioned his tactics after the opening draw. The Spanish manager made four changes to his starting lineup for the match, bringing in Yamal alongside Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena, and the adjustments paid off immediately. The second half also gave valuable match minutes to returning injured players Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, who came off the bench to build up match fitness ahead of the knockout stage.

For Saudi Arabia, the result leaves the Asian side facing a do-or-die final group game against Cape Verde in Houston. The Arabian Falcons held Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in their opening fixture, but Sunday’s lopsided defeat has ramped up pressure on manager Georgios Donis, who voiced clear frustration after the match that two of Spain’s goals came from corner kick set pieces. A win against Cape Verde would see Saudi Arabia advance to the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time since the tournament was last hosted in the United States 32 years ago, but anything less will see them exit the competition early.

HENGELO, Netherlands — The 2024 FBK Games, a top-tier stop on World Athletics’ Continental Tour Gold circuit, delivered a standout performance from Jamaican rising sprint star Brianna Lyston on Sunday, who stormed to women’s 100m gold with a blistering 10.99-second finish against a -0.6m/s headwind. This remarkable result marks Lyston’s second sub-11-second 100m clocking of the 2024 outdoor season, coming just six days after she ran 11.18 seconds at the meet in Ostrava, Czechia — a progression that underscores her growing form ahead of major global championships. The former World Under-20 200m champion outpaced a competitive international field to secure the top spot on the podium. Host nation representative Minke Bisschops took home silver with a 11.08-second run, while Brazil’s Ana Azevedo rounded out the top three with a time of 11.26 seconds. Beyond the sprint, Jamaican athletes also made their mark in field events at the meet. Multiple Jamaican national champion Danniel Thomas-Dodd finished fourth in the women’s shot put, posting a best throw of 18.65m on the day. The event title went to home crowd favorite Jessica Schilder, the current world leader in the discipline, who unleashed a winning throw of 20.03m. Schilder beat her compatriot Jorinde Van Klinken, who took second with a 19.34m throw, while Portugal’s Jessica Inchude claimed third place at 18.83m. In the men’s discus throw, Olympic champion Roje Stona of Jamaica notched a fifth-place finish with a best throw of 65.22m. Germany’s Henrik Janssen took the event gold with a leading throw of 68.21m, followed by Chile’s Claudio Romero in second at 67.61m. Great Britain’s Lawrence Okoye secured the third spot on the podium with a 66.10m throw. The FBK Games continues to serve as a key preparation event for elite track and field athletes, offering high-level competition ahead of the year’s biggest global athletics events, with Lyston’s performance emerging as one of the weekend’s most notable highlights.