LOS ANGELES June 21, 2026 — Belgium and Iran played out a tense, goalless stalemate at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood as both teams failed to secure their first win of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G campaign.
The highly anticipated clash saw Belgium dominate possession for long periods but struggle to break down a disciplined and resilient Iranian defense. A moment of controversy arrived in the 66th minute when Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off with a straight red card following a reckless challenge, leaving the Red Devils to play with 10 men for the final stages.
Iran came closest to breaking the deadlock when captain Mehdi Taremi had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half. Later, goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand produced several standout saves, including a remarkable point-blank stop, to keep the score level.
Key Highlights:
- Belgium (0-1-0): Started with a 1-1 draw vs Egypt. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois were prominent but couldn’t find the net.
- Iran (0-1-0): Came from a 2-2 draw vs New Zealand in their opener. Showed strong counter-attacking threat and defensive solidity.
- Attendance: 70,317
- Referee: Darío Herrera (Argentina)
The result means both teams remain on 1 point each after two matches. Group G is now extremely competitive, with knockout-stage qualification still up for grabs in the final round of fixtures.
Belgium will need to regroup quickly, especially after the red card and missed opportunities, while Iran will take confidence from another solid performance against European opposition.
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