Belgium arrived in Los Angeles desperate for a statement win. Instead, they left with more questions than answers. A stubborn Iran side held the Red Devils to a goalless draw, extending Belgium’s winless start to the World Cup and throwing Group G wide open.
The final whistle was greeted with contrasting emotions. Iranian players celebrated a hard-earned point like a victory, while Belgium’s stars trudged off knowing another opportunity had slipped away.
On paper, Belgium dominated. They registered 23 shots, controlled possession for long spells and created enough chances to win comfortably. Yet football is rarely decided on paper, and Iran’s discipline, resilience and belief proved stronger than Belgium’s attacking intent.
Iran nearly struck first. Hossein Kanani forced an excellent save from Thibaut Courtois before Saeid Ezatolahi headed wide from close range. Moments later, Mehdi Taremi thought he had given his side the lead with a smart finish from a rehearsed free-kick routine, only for VAR to rule him narrowly offside.
Belgium responded through Kevin De Bruyne and Maxim De Cuyper, but goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand stood tall. His performance became one of the defining stories of the evening.
The save that will live longest in the memory arrived just before the hour mark. De Bruyne produced a touch of class and delivered a perfect ball to De Cuyper, who seemed certain to score. Somehow, Beiranvand stretched out a hand from the ground and kept the effort out.
That moment summed up the match. Belgium had the opportunities, but Iran had the answers.
The contest tilted further in Iran’s favour when Nathan Ngoy was sent off after dragging down Taremi following a misplaced back pass. Down to ten men, Belgium looked vulnerable, yet Courtois produced crucial saves to keep the score level.
For Belgium, the concern runs deeper than one result. This talented generation continues to struggle on football’s biggest stage. The nation’s so-called Golden Generation reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, but silverware has remained elusive.
Romelu Lukaku’s difficult night reflected that decline. The striker has now gone eight World Cup matches without a goal. Jeremy Doku’s absence through illness was also felt, removing much of Belgium’s pace and unpredictability.
“We have to analyse what went wrong because we created so many chances without scoring, and that’s frustrating,” Lukaku admitted. “We play with too much emotion in key moments.”
Coach Rudi Garcia echoed those concerns. “We lacked efficiency up front,” he said. “At times, we looked a bit hesitant.”
Iran, meanwhile, continue to defy expectations. Despite travel disruptions and off-field challenges, they sit top of Group G and remain firmly on course for a place in the knockout rounds.
