Belgium and Iran play to a 0-0 draw in Group G at SoFi Stadium, leaving Belgium winless at the World Cup and facing a difficult path into the knockout stage. Multiple reports say Belgium control much of the possession and create the better attacking chances, but Iran defend resolutely and keep the match scoreless. Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand makes several key saves, contributing to a goalless result.
The match turns after Belgium’s Nathan Ngoy is sent off for a foul on Mehdi Taremi, forcing Belgium to play the final portion of the game with 10 men. Earlier, Taremi has a free-kick strike in the first half that appears headed for the net, but VAR overturns it for offside, according to reports. The draw has major group implications: one source notes that all three Group G matches so far end in draws.
With the point, Iran move closer to advancing to the knockout stage, while Belgium enter the final round in a precarious situation that could involve group-stage elimination if results elsewhere do not go their way.
