The Group G encounter at SoFi Stadium promised a breakthrough for one of the tournament’s unfulfilled contenders; instead, it delivered a stalemate that deepens the uncertainty around both sides. Belgium, still without a victory and without a genuine goal of their own at this World Cup, were reduced to ten men midway through the second half when defender Nathan Ngoy was dismissed for wrestling Mehdi Taremi to the ground after a badly mis-hit back-pass. The 66th‑minute red card, the youngest for such an offence at a World Cup since 2014, added urgency to a Belgian attack that had already spent most of the afternoon toiling against a well‑organised Iranian defence.

The match had angled in Iran’s direction earlier. In the 25th minute, a clever free-kick routine saw captain Ehsan Hajsafi slide the ball through the Belgian wall to Taremi, who took a touch and finished calmly past Thibaut Courtois. The goal was disallowed after a VAR review determined Taremi was a fraction offside – a reprieve that Courtois and his back line would need several more times. Belgium monopolised possession, completing over 300 passes in the first half alone, but their approach play dissolved into blunt edge work. Romelu Lukaku, back in the starting line-up, was booked inside three minutes for a reckless collision with goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and found little clear space thereafter, while the absence of the ill Jérémy Doku deprived the Red Devils of their sharpest wide dribbler.

Iran’s resilience was embodied by Beiranvand, who made seven saves, several of them extraordinary. The most stunning came just before the hour mark when he sprawled low to his left to claw away Maxim De Cuyper’s point‑blank effort after Kevin De Bruyne’s clever cut‑back. Beiranvand also denied Youri Tielemans and two further close‑range attempts in the closing minutes, leaving Belgium – who fired 20 shots but only four on target – wholly frustrated. Courtois was needed, too, turning away a sharp Taremi volley and a snapshot from Saeid Ezatolahi, ensuring that even with a man advantage Iran could not capitalise.

The backdrop to Iran’s performance is a tournament defined by logistical hardship. Based in Tijuana, Mexico, because Washington restricts their time on American soil, Amir Ghalenoei’s squad arrived in Los Angeles only 16 hours before kick‑off and will have to repeat that rushed commute for their final group match against Egypt in Seattle – though the White House task force has indicated restrictions may be eased for that trip. The coach, who had labelled his team the “most oppressed” at the World Cup, received no public solidarity from other managers but saw his players transform the chaos into two solid draws that keep them unbeaten. Belgium, whose golden generation is flickering, now face a defining fixture against New Zealand in Vancouver on 27 June, while Iran take on Egypt the same day – a pair of matches that will decide which of these teams, if any, can advance from a group where all four sides still have points to play for.