Belgium held to goalless draw by Iran in Group G
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia admitted his team was not "efficient enough" after being held to a 0-0 draw by a resilient Iran in their second Group G match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Los Angeles on Sunday. Despite dominating possession and creating several clear-cut chances, Belgium failed to find the back of the net, largely due to the heroics of Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
"We could have won by three goals against Iran but we weren't efficient enough. We had many attempts and when you don't score, you don't win a match. We dominated, so tactically and in terms of the game plan we played as we wanted to play. But we were wasteful and lacked efficiency," Garcia said after the match.
Belgium dominate early but fail to convert
Belgium made an assertive start, controlling possession and creating the better chances in the opening exchanges. Maxim De Cuyper tested Beiranvand with a powerful long-range effort, which the goalkeeper dealt with comfortably. Iran remained dangerous on the counterattack and nearly broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when Mehdi Taremi finished a well-worked free-kick routine, only for the goal to be disallowed after a VAR review confirmed a narrow offside.
The Belgian side continued to dominate large portions of the first half, registering multiple attempts on goal. Despite their pressure, they were repeatedly denied by Beiranvand, who produced a series of crucial saves to keep Iran level heading into half-time.
Red card changes the game
The game took a dramatic turn in the 66th minute when Belgium were reduced to 10 men. Nathan Ngoy was shown a straight red card after bringing down Taremi, who had raced through on goal following a defensive error. The dismissal forced Belgium to reorganise defensively, with tactical adjustments made to contain Iran. Notably, the incident marked the eighth red card of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"Playing 30 minutes down a man is very difficult in a World Cup," Garcia said.
Iran unable to capitalize on numerical advantage
With a numerical advantage, Iran increased their attacking intent in search of a winner, introducing fresh attacking options and applying sustained pressure on the Belgian defence. However, despite creating a few late opportunities, they were unable to convert their chances. The match ended goalless, leaving both teams with a valuable point.
Group G standings remain tight
Group G remains tightly contested, with Iran (first) and Belgium (second) on two points each, while New Zealand (third) and Egypt (fourth) are also level on a point each. Both teams will look to secure a win in their final group matches to advance to the knockout stages.
