Belgium’s World Cup hopes took a serious blow on Sunday, as they were held to a goalless draw by Iran in a tense and frustrating encounter in Los Angeles. The Red Devils finished the match with ten men and now face the prospect of consecutive group-stage exits.
Despite fielding a star-studded but aging lineup featuring Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Belgium struggled to break through Iran’s disciplined defense.
Although they dominated possession, it was Iran who carved out the game’s clearest chances, nearly taking the lead twice in the first half. Mehdi Taremi thought he had scored from a clever free-kick routine, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside. Thibaut Courtois was also called into action to deny Hossein Kanani’s low drive.
Belgium’s task became even tougher after halftime, when defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off for bringing down Taremi, following a disastrous backpass. Down to ten men, Belgium continued to press but rarely threatened, and could count themselves fortunate to escape with a point.
All three matches in Group G have now ended in draws, leaving Belgium with just two points. Their final group fixture against New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, is now a must-win. Iran, meanwhile, will need at least a draw against Egypt to progress.
The Iranian squad has faced logistical challenges due to visa issues while traveling between Mexico and the U.S., though reports suggest restrictions will ease ahead of their decisive clash in Seattle.
Off the pitch, the match was punctuated by protests from Los Angeles’ large Persian exile community, who chanted against Iran’s government outside the stadium. Inside, Iran’s national anthem was met with boos, in stark contrast to the warm reception given to the players themselves.
On the field, Iran sat deep in a defensive formation during the first half, inviting Belgium to circulate the ball around their box but rarely conceding space. Lukaku, restored to the starting lineup after an impactful substitute appearance against Egypt, came closest for Belgium with a header that missed the target just before the break.
Belgium’s best spell came after a flurry of substitutions in the second half, with Maxim De Cuyper forcing a sharp save and Hans Vanaken firing over from a rebound. But the Red Devils’ momentum was short-lived following Ngoy’s dismissal, and the match fizzled out into a nervy stalemate. De Cuyper had one final effort from the edge of the box, but Iran held firm to claim a valuable draw.
