INGLEWOOD, JOURNALARTA.COM – Belgium failed to beat Iran in the 2026 World Cup. The Group G match at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, on Monday, June 22, 2026, early Wednesday WIB, ended 0-0, a painful result for the Red Devils, who played with 10 men for almost a third of the match.
The draw had an immediate impact on the standings. Belgium are now behind Iran in third place on goal difference, while Egypt lead Group G with four points.
Beiranvand Turns Into Iran’s Wall
Belgium did most of the attacking. They had 70 percent possession, 22 shots, and 7 on target. But those numbers meant nothing without a goal.
One player who left Belgium frustrated that night was Alireza Beiranvand. The Iran goalkeeper delivered a heroic performance throughout the match, including a point-blank stop from Maxim De Cuyper in the second half. Beiranvand deservedly earned Man of the Match honors.
Iran managed only 7 shots, with 3 on target. They did not need many. The coach’s plan was a five-man back line, a low block, disciplined defending, and it worked exactly as intended.
There was a dramatic moment in the first half. Mehdi Taremi scored from a free kick, but VAR ruled it out for offside. Iran escaped a deficit that should not have happened.
Ngoy’s Red Card Changes the Match
The 66th minute became the turning point. Nathan Ngoy fouled Mehdi Taremi, who had broken clear after an interception from a poor pass in Belgium’s back line. Argentine referee Darío Herrera immediately showed a red card.
Belgium were down to 10 men. The remaining 30 minutes felt very long.
Iran then had a golden chance to turn the game around. But they failed to make use of the extra man. Belgium fought hard at the back, and the match ended without another goal.
Another note from the game: Romelu Lukaku had already been booked in the 3rd minute for a hard tackle on Beiranvand. He had to stay extra careful for the rest of the match.
Group G Standings Get Tighter
| 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. The race to qualify is still wide open, but Belgium have no room for another draw in their final match.
The match drew 70,317 fans out of a stadium capacity of 70,492. Almost full.
Garcia Laments Belgium’s Wastefulness
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia did not hide his frustration after the match.
To see live scores and schedules, analysis, predictions, games, and the latest 2026 World Cup news, visit: JournalArta Special Event https://journalarta.com/piala-dunia-2026/
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