Belgium were forced to settle for a disappointing 0–0 draw against Iran in a tightly contested 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G encounter at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, a result that leaves the group finely balanced heading into the final round of matches.
Despite dominating possession for long spells, Belgium led by experienced stars such as Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku struggled to break down a disciplined Iranian defence that remained compact and well-organised throughout.
Iran thought they had taken the lead in the first half when striker Mehdi Taremi finished off a well-worked set-piece move, but the effort was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
The turning point of the match came in the second half when Belgium were reduced to 10 men after defender Nathan Ngoy received a straight red card for pulling down Taremi following a misplaced backpass, leaving the Red Devils under increased pressure.
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Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was called into action multiple times, making crucial saves to deny Iran, who looked more threatening on the counterattack despite spending much of the game without possession.
Head coach Rudi Garcia introduced several attacking changes in the second half, but Belgium’s attempts to find a breakthrough proved futile as Iran held firm under pressure.
The result means all three matches in Group G have ended in draws so far, leaving qualification for the knockout stage wide open. Belgium now face New Zealand in their final group game, while Iran will take on Egypt in a decisive encounter.
With both teams still in contention, the final round of fixtures is expected to determine who advances from one of the tournament’s most tightly contested groups.
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