World Cup 2026: Ten-man Belgium held to goalless draw by Iran

0-0 at SoFi: Beiranvand denies Belgium

A goalless draw at the World Cup 2026. Belgium and Iran finished level at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, a result that flattered neither attack but rewarded Iran's discipline.

Belgium did almost everything except score. Seventy per cent possession, twenty shots inside the penalty area, and an expected goals figure of 1.79 to Iran's 0.62 tell the story of a one-sided afternoon. The Iran goalkeeper made seven saves; his Belgian counterpart was needed only three times. Belgium even mustered seven shots on target to Iran's three, yet the net stayed empty.

The defining moment was not a goal but a dismissal. Nathan Ngoy was sent off on 66 minutes, leaving Belgium to chase a winner with ten men. Iran, content to defend deep — fifty-one clearances says as much — held firm. Belgium remain unbeaten and top of Group G, already through; Iran keep their hopes alive.

De Bruyne, Lukaku and how the teams set up

Lukaku's early booking to Ngoy's 66th-minute red

It began badly for discipline and ended worse. Romelu Lukaku was booked inside three minutes, an early sign of a niggly afternoon. On 25 minutes Iran thought they had the lead through Mehdi Taremi, but the video assistant referee ruled it out for offside. Saman Ezatolahi was cautioned on 33 minutes as Iran dug in.

Iran reshaped at the interval, sending on Alireza Jahanbakhsh for Saeid Hardani. Belgium answered just after the hour with a triple change — Timothy Castagne, Hans Vanaken and Dodi Lukebakio all introduced — searching for a spark. The match turned on 66 minutes: Nathan Ngoy was shown a red card, and Belgium were down to ten. Iran made a double change at the same moment.

From there it was containment. Lukaku made way for Arthur Theate on 73 minutes, and Kevin De Bruyne was withdrawn for Mathis Fernandez-Pardo with three minutes left. Iran rotated their attack but never quite threatened to steal it. The whistle confirmed a goalless stalemate.

A Belgium win was called; 0-0 was not

The futbol.so community leaned firmly towards Belgium, with the consensus pick landing on a comfortable Belgium 3-1. Fans from Argentina, Colombia and Spain all tilted the same way, varying only on the margin. The official forecast made Belgium clear favourites too.

Reality had other ideas. The official model also flagged a draw as the second most likely outcome, and that is precisely what materialised — a scoreline the model itself listed as its predicted result. Belgium's dominance never found a finish, Iran's goalkeeper stood tall, and Ngoy's dismissal flattened any late surge. A reminder that favourites and finishes are not the same thing.

Video highlights

Post-Match Press Conference: Belgium's Rudi Garcia On 0-0 Draw With IR Iran

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LIVE | Belgium vs Iran | Live The Game | FIFA World Cup 2026

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Is Belgium in TROUBLE⁉️ FULL REACTION to their draw vs. Iran 👀 | ESPN FC

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LUKAKU e DE BRUYNE non superano BEIRANVAND: Belgio-Iran 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | DAZN

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Post-Match Press Conference: IR Iran's Amir Ghalenoei On 0-0 Draw With Belgium

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Belgium v Iran - Full Post-Match | Vieira, Keane, Hayes react

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HIGHLIGHTS - Belgium v Iran | High Stakes in LA | FIFA World Cup 2026

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World Cup: Belgium vs Iran

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Belgium top Group G on five points and have already booked their place in the Round of 32, even if the manner of this draw will frustrate them. Iran sit third on three points, currently the eighth-best third-placed side and provisionally through — a position that still depends on results elsewhere.

Plenty to chew on, then. Belgium will want their forwards sharper; Iran will take heart from a battling clean sheet. The wait for confirmation continues.