Belgium vs Iran Ends 0-0 in Inglewood after Ngoy Red Card
Belgium vs Iran ended 0-0 at the 2026 World Cup, with 10-man Red Devils holding on in Inglewood and the Group G race tightening.
INGLEWOOD — Belgium were left to settle for a 0-0 draw against Iran at SoFi Stadium on Monday, June 22, 2026, early Wednesday WIB, after Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the 66th minute and Alireza Beiranvand stood firm for the Iranians in Group G.
The result matters. Belgium now sit level on points with Iran, but behind them on goal difference, while Egypt lead the group with four points after two games.
Belgium had the ball. Iran had the edge.
Belgium controlled long stretches of the match and finished with 70 percent possession, 22 shots, and seven on target. The numbers told one story. The scoreboard told another.
Iran, organized and patient, needed far less. They managed seven attempts, with three on target, but their defensive shape and discipline kept Belgium at arm’s length for most of the night. The five-man back line held its line well, and the low block did the rest.
Beiranvand was the difference. The Iran goalkeeper denied Belgium from close range, most notably when he stopped Maxim De Cuyper in the second half. By the end, Beiranvand had done enough to earn Man of the Match honors.
There was also a big scare for Iran before halftime. Mehdi Taremi found the net from a free kick, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. Belgium survived that moment, but they never found a clean finish of their own.
Ngoy’s dismissal changed the match
The decisive incident arrived in the 66th minute. Nathan Ngoy fouled Taremi after Iran intercepted a loose pass in Belgium’s back line, and Argentine referee Darío Herrera showed a straight red card.
That left Belgium with 10 men for the final third of the match. Tough task. And the final 30 minutes turned into a test of nerves, shape, and patience.
Iran pushed forward with the extra man and had their best window to steal the game, but they could not turn pressure into a winner. Belgium, despite the numerical disadvantage, defended stubbornly and cleared enough danger to preserve the point.
Romelu Lukaku also picked up an early yellow card in the third minute for a hard tackle on Beiranvand. It forced the Belgium striker to tread carefully for the rest of the game, though he still remained a threat whenever Belgium broke forward.
Group G stays tight after the draw
The stalemate keeps Group G finely balanced. Egypt are top on four points, while Iran and Belgium each have two. New Zealand trail on one.
| Team | Played | W | D | L | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Iran | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Belgium | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
Iran hold the tiebreaker over Belgium on goal difference, so the Red Devils cannot afford another draw in their final group match if they want to keep control of their qualification path. The margin is thin now.
SoFi Stadium was nearly full for the contest, with 70,317 fans inside a venue listed at 70,492 capacity. Rudi Garcia, Belgium’s coach, cut a frustrated figure afterward as his team paid for missed chances and one costly red card.
For Belgium, the final number that will sting is simple: 22 shots, no goals. For Iran, the reward was a point and a goalkeeper who shut the door when it mattered most.
