It was action-packed, but nothing could separate Belgium and Iran. Look back on the action from Group G at the 2026 World Cup with our Belgium vs Iran stats page.
Ten-man Belgium were frustrated by a resolute Iran as they played out a 0-0 stalemate in Los Angeles on Sunday, making it two draws from two games for both sides.
While the contest saw a first-half Mehdi Taremi goal disallowed, Nathan Ngoy sent off in the second period and plenty of chances in general, neither team could claim their first win in Group G.
Belgium dominated much of the game, but it was Iran who had the better of the early chances, with Hossein Kanani’s drive forcing Thibaut Courtois into a fine save.
From the resulting corner, Saeid Ezatolahi rose highest at the back post but could only thump his header wide from close range, before Youri Tielemans tried his luck from a tight angle at the other end, only to be thwarted by Alireza Beiranvand.
Belgium survived another scare in the 25th minute. A cleverly worked short free-kick from Ehsan Hajsafi was threaded into Taremi, who spun and slotted past Courtois, but a VAR check showed he was marginally offside.
Kevin De Bruyne and Maxim De Cuyper both saw volleys smothered by Beiranvand as Belgium pushed for a goal that never came before the break.
Belgium then picked up where they left off in the second half, with Alexis Saelemaekers peeling away at the back post to volley a De Bruyne corner into the side netting.
Courtois – on his 17th World Cup appearance – saved Belgium again shortly after, pushing away Taremi’s rasping volley, and Beiranvand was equally impactful at the other end, stretching out a strong hand to inexplicably keep out De Cuyper’s attempt from point-blank range.
Ngoy’s 66th-minute lapse in concentration proved costly; Taremi pounced on his terrible attempted backpass from just inside Belgium’s half before the defender dragged him back, receiving a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Courtois got down to keep out Ezatolahi’s long-range drive, while Beiranvand held De Cuyper’s low curler before Dodi Lukebakio bent an effort wide as the sides were forced to share the points in Los Angeles.
Belgium Get Lucky After Lacking Golden Touch
While Belgium had to come from behind to earn their draw with Egypt last time out, Jérémy Doku had been a bright spark. His absence against Iran through illness was sorely felt.
Leandro Trossard created six chances, while De Bruyne made three and had 34 passes in the final third, but Belgium just could not find a way past Beiranvand.
And it was another frustrating outing for Romelu Lukaku, who was rewarded with a start after forcing the own-goal equaliser last time out. He has now gone eight games without a goal at the World Cup, with his last coming in 2018.
Rudi Garcia will be worried about Belgium’s disjointedness up front. They have now had 69 shots without success, having 23 against Iran (worth 1.82 expected goals), and are winless in their last four World Cup matches.
Iran’s experience paid off, however. With an average age of 32 years and 181 days, it was the oldest XI named in a World Cup match on record (since 1966), and they threw bodies on the line to keep Belgium at bay. Nevertheless, they may feel unlucky to walk away with only a point, especially after Taremi’s great chance before Belgium went down to 10.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Belgium vs Iran stats from their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G meeting at Los Angeles Stadium on 21 June.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
Belgium vs Iran: Post-Match Opta Facts
- With an average age of 32 years and 181 days, Iran named the oldest starting XI by any side on record (from 1966) for a FIFA World Cup match.
- Leandro Trossard created five chances for Kevin De Bruyne for Belgium against Iran, the most by one player to a single teammate in a FIFA World Cup match since Bastian Schweinsteiger to Michael Ballack for Germany against Sweden in 2006.
- Iran completed just 50 passes in the first half of this match, the third-lowest on record (from 1966) by a side in the opening period of a FIFA World Cup game. Each of the four lowest first half totals recorded have all been by Iran: 52 v Spain in 2018, 50 v Belgium today, 46 v England in 2022, and 44 v Argentina in 2014.
- Two of Belgium’s last three FIFA World Cup games have finished 0-0 (also v Croatia in 2022), this after only one of their first 50 matches at the finals had ended without a goal.
- Belgium had 23 shots in this match, their most without scoring in a FIFA World Cup game since 1994 against Saudi Arabia (28). Indeed, their players have fired in 69 shots at the finals since a Belgium player last got on the scoresheet (Michy Batshuayi v Canada in 2022).
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