“Courtois and Beiranvand shine in the draw between Belgium and Iran while playing with ten.”

Thibaut Courtois and Alireza Beiranvand provided a true showdown of giants between the posts in an absolutely frantic match that ended in a surprising goalless draw between Belgium and Iran, leaving both teams with calculators in hand for the final round of Group G at the 2026 World Cup. Despite being reduced to ten men following Nathan Ngoy’s dismissal, Belgium managed to hold on for the draw, but saw their chances of reaching the knockout stage seriously threatened by the courageous and organized performance of the Iranians.

The match, held in Los Angeles, was marked by the expulsion of Ngoy in the 64th minute, in a play where the Belgian defender lost control of the ball and cynically stopped Mehdi Taremi, who was breaking away towards the “Red Devils” goal. Up to that point, both Courtois and Beiranvand had been crucial in preventing opposing goals: the Real Madrid goalkeeper denied Taremi twice, while the Iranian was outstanding against Romelu Lukaku and Maxim De Cuyper. Still in the first half, Iran celebrated a 1-0 lead following a well-executed free kick, but the VAR disallowed the play for a marginal offside by Taremi.


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The goalless draw leaves both teams with two points, after they also drew in the opening round. The margin for error has run out, and only a victory in the final round can guarantee qualification for the knockout stage. Iran, which arrived in Los Angeles late due to logistical problems after training in Tijuana, survived Belgium’s strong start and responded with confidence, posing successive difficulties for the Belgian defense. The disallowed goal for offside and the impeccable performance of Beiranvand fuel the Persian hope of continuing to make history.

On the Belgian side, coach Domenico Tedesco did not hide some frustration at the end of the match: “Of course we wanted to win. We had clear opportunities, but we were not effective. After the red card, we had to reorganize and fight hard to hold on to the draw. Now we only depend on ourselves and we have to show a different style of play in the next game,” Tedesco stated at the press conference. Carlos Queiroz, the coach of Iran, highlighted the courage of his team: “My players were exemplary. We arrived late, had no time to rest, but on the field, they gave everything. I am proud of the way we faced one of the best teams in the world. The disallowed goal? Those are VAR decisions; it’s part of the game. The important thing is that we remain alive and with aspirations,” Queiroz declared after the final whistle.

For Courtois, named man of the match, Belgium’s defensive resilience was crucial: “Being one player down under these conditions is never easy, but we kept our cool and defended with everything. The draw feels like a disappointment, but we still have everything to play for,” emphasized the Belgian goalkeeper as he left the pitch. Beiranvand, for his part, credited the Iranian unity: “We showed the world that we know how to suffer and fight until the end. Now we will believe until the last second,” assured the Iranian goalkeeper.

With three draws in the first three matches, Group G is completely open. New Zealand and Egypt will face off in the early hours of Monday in a match that could finally begin to define the hierarchy, ahead of the final round of the group stage. The pressure is now on Belgium, which will need to show greater offensive effectiveness to avoid jeopardizing their qualification, while Iran dreams of making their first appearance in the World Cup knockout stage. The next match will undoubtedly be a do-or-die situation for both teams, in a group where no one has yet managed to assert themselves clearly. The drama is far from over, and fans can expect another night of thrilling emotions.

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