Belgium 0-0 Iran: 10-Man Red Devils Held Again as Group G Remains Wide Open

The third game of Group G at the 2026 World Cup ended goalless as 10-man Belgium misfired once again and could only manage a draw against fellow winless side Iran.

Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy received a red card in the 66th minute for a professional foul on Iran and Olympiacos striker Mehdi Taremi after conceding possession on his own halfway line.

Taremi did have the ball in the net during the first half, but it was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Squandered chances will remain the main talking point for the Red Devils, especially considering the side’s inability to beat Egypt in their previous match.

Manchester City winger and Belgium star Jeremy Doku was absent from the squad following the controversy surrounding the 24-year-old’s desire to leave the Americas for the birth of his first child.

With all four teams in Group G drawing their opening matches, the group remained perfectly balanced heading into Sunday night’s kick-off in Los Angeles.

As the table suggested, a slow and evenly contested start followed the opening whistle. Both sides poked and prodded at their opponent’s defence, but neither could find a breakthrough.

Despite Belgium’s individual quality, the first clear opportunity fell to Iran when marksman Mehdi Taremi put the ball past Thibaut Courtois following a well-worked free-kick routine from just outside the penalty area. However, VAR ruled the striker offside.

A lacklustre performance in front of goal from Belgium continued into the second half, although the pressure gradually began to build on the Iranian backline.

Brighton left-back Maxime De Cuyper was the unlikely player to receive two of Belgium’s best chances of the game. The biggest came from Kevin De Bruyne’s individual brilliance. Bringing the ball down superbly while keeping it in play, the Belgian captain watched as his teammates flooded the penalty area. He then fizzed a dangerous low cross into the box which ricocheted kindly to De Cuyper, but the full-back could not steer his effort beyond the outstretched arm of Alireza Beiranvand.

Belgium were clearly on top in the second half, but Ngoy’s lapse of concentration and subsequent red card appeared to change the complexion of the game entirely.

However, despite the dismissal, Belgium continued to push forward, although their patient build-up soon turned into desperation around the penalty area.

Dodi Lukebakio unleashed several long-range efforts during the closing stages, but none came close to troubling Beiranvand or the scoreboard.

As the full-time whistle blew, another draw was recorded in Group G, leaving all four nations with a chance of qualification heading into the final group matches.