Belgium 0-0 Iran: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 clash

This was the first-ever clash between these nations.

The Belgium national football team battled it out against the Iran national football team for their second group stage game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This clash took place at the Los Angeles Stadium.

Rudi Garcia’s men are still winless in the mega competition this year. Their performance was only enough to get them a goalless draw against Team Melli. The Belgian Red Devils came up with multiple attempts on the goal, but weren’t quite able to fire the ball at the back of the net.

The Amir Ghalenoei-led side might not have secured a win here, but will be satisfied with another draw in their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign. Even though Belgium were down to 10 men in the final quarter of the game, Iran failed to use it to their advantage.

Five important things we learned from this match:

1. Showstopper Alireza Beiranvand

The goalkeeper of the Iran national football team made multiple saves and did not let a single shot slip away at the back of the net by Belgium. Rudi Garcia’s men attempted 22 shots on the goal and the majority of them were stopped by Alireza Beiranvand, who was brilliant between the sticks for Team Melli.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Fixtures, Schedule, Results, Match Timings & Where to Watch

2. Defensive masterclass by Iran

The Belgian national football team failed to get past the Iranian defence. They controlled the majority of the ball possession and their tactics were not quite enough to secure three points. Team Melli will be satisfied with their efforts in the backline, but their performance in the final third was quite underwhelming.

3. Belgium’s attack missed Jeremy Doku

Without the 24-year-old, the Belgian Red Devils failed to score a goal against Iran. Jeremy Doku plays a crucial role on the flanks for both his club and country. Ahead of the game, Rudi Garcia mentioned that he would not be in action due to illness. Doku was surely missed in the final third by his Belgian teammates.

4. Controlling the tempo not enough

The European nation looked quite good with the ball throughout the game. There were big chances created to score a goal, but they lacked the finishing touch in the final third. Also, Alireza Beiranvand between the sticks was quite sharp for Iran. The Belgium national football team had 68% of ball possession and attempted 22 shots on the goal, but still were only able to secure a point.

5. Nathan Ngoy’s red card a disaster

Things only went downhill for the Belgian Red Devils after Nathan Ngoy was shown a red card in the 67th minute for his indisciplined action on Mahedi Taremi. This shifted some of the tempo towards Team Melli. Belgium came under pressure, but Iran failed to use this as an advantage.

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