Belgium 0-0 Iran
If Belgium are to deliver World Cup 2026 highlights, they are going to have up their game quickly.
This stalemate with Iran was the latest such example of a nation failing to fulfil their undoubted promise.
They may not be the side they were when they finished third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia but they are still a genuine threat.
While Belgium didn’t exactly fire in their World Cup opener as the spoils were shared in Seattle, their 1-1 draw with Egypt was hardly a disastrous start and they showed, in bursts, that they have many players with the guile to break down the Iranians.
International football’s Red Devils have proven matchwinners in goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, captain Kevin de Bruyne and the country’s all-time top scorer – Romelu Lukaku – who had an immediate impact when he came off the bench against the Egyptians as he worked his way back to full fitness.
So why are they struggling so much and lacking in conviction?
By contrast, this was a fine result for Iran, building on the character they showed when they twice came from behind to draw with New Zealand – a difficult task made even harder given the natural tensions between their nation and the co-hosts.
Highlights of the game
The Belgians made the early running and De Bruyne saw an early effort saved by Alireza Beiranvand but it was his counterpart Courtois who made the best stop of the first half to keep out a drive from Hossein Kanani.
The warning signs were there when Mehdi Taremi turned and slotted past the Belgian number one only to be narrowly offside.
De Bruyne was always threatening and, just before the break, Youri Tielemans found Maxim de Cuyper whose volley was kept out by Beiranvand.
Belgium topped their qualifying group with 18 points from a possible 24, scoring 29 goals and conceding only seven, yet they seemed very unconvincing in Los Angeles and it was clear they could not switch off from the rare Iranian threat.
Into the second half and, while the majority of pressure continued to come from Belgium, Courtois was their savour once more, once more from Taremi who spun quickly and hammered a shot at goalwards.
Anything Courtois could do, so could Beiranvand and he produced arguably the best save of the tournament so far on the hour as Maxim de Cuyper slammed a shot on target from close range – the Iranian shot-stopper getting a fantastic hand to it just as the majority were expecting the opening goal.
A key moment arrived midway through the second half when talented young centre back Nathan Ngoy underhit a backpass to Courtois.
Although he was a long way from goal, Taremi was alert and raced through only to be pulled back by Ngoy and he was dismissed for a clear professional foul.
Suddenly, the SBOTOP World Cup 2026 betting odds changed and manager Amir Ghalenoei, a diminutive midfielder who played mainly for Esteghlal, one of Tehran’s two biggest clubs, must have known this was a chance for his country to make history.
Iran, who have never reached the knockout stage in six previous World Cup appearances and have only won three of their 20 matches in the tournament, now had the initiative. The key question was, did they have the quality to break down their 10-man opponents?
Certainly, chances were at a premium at both ends, most notably coming when de Bruyne uncharacteristically lost possession and Saeid Ezatolah fired an effort at Courtois before Alireza thwarted de Cuyper.
A moment of skill from Dodi Lukebakio almost proved the winner, his curling shot drifting inches wide with the goalkeeper possibly beaten.
That was that and the stalemate was confirmed, although Iran can be much happier with the point, despite their late numerical advantage.
Key statistics
Belgium have failed to win any of their past four games at World Cups; their last such winless streak came from June 1994 to June 2002, a run of seven games. They had previously won 11 of their previous 13 games at the tournament.
This was the first ever senior international meeting between Belgium and Iran.
What’s next?
Belgium will face New Zealand and Iran meet Egypt in the final games of Group G next Saturday (June 27).
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