Iran hold 10-man Belgium 0-0 as Alireza Beiranvand makes decisive saves

Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand repeatedly ⁠saved his side with crucial interventions, including an extraordinary stop from a point-blank-range effort from Maxim De Cuyper in the second half

Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made a string of impressive saves to keep alive Iran's hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, as they earned a hard-fought point against 10-man Belgium.

Belgium 0-0 Iran: Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves and Nathan Ngoy’s dismissal leaves one of the fancied teams of the tournament stuck on two points from two games

Belgium 0-0 Iran: Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves and Nathan Ngoy’s dismissal leaves one of the fancied teams of the tournament stuck on two points from two games

Belgium and Iran remain without a win at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after playing out a tense goalless draw in Los Angeles on Saturday. Goalkeepers Alireza Beiranvand and Thibaut Courtois produced a string of fine saves, while Belgium's hopes were dented by Nathan Ngoy's second-half red card. Despite playing the final 24 minutes with an extra man, Iran were unable to find the breakthrough.Shared points in LA #FIFAWorldCup— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 21, 2026 Belgium entered the game without the ill Jeremy Doku, while Romelu Lukaku made his first start for club or country since June last year. Rudi Garcia's side controlled possession for long spells but struggled to break down Iran's disciplined defence. Their best first-half opportunity came when Youri Tielemans unleashed a powerful drive at the near post, only for Beiranvand to produce a sharp save.Iran, content to sit deep and defend in numbers, threatened on the counter and from set-pieces. Courtois was called into action to deny Hossein Kanani's close-range effort following a long throw, before Team Melli thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half. An inventive free-kick routine saw Ehsan Hajisafi slip the ball through to Mehdi Taremi, who fired beyond Courtois, but the striker was correctly flagged offside.The second half followed a similar pattern. Substitute Alireza Jahanbakhsh marked his 100th international appearance, while Taremi again tested Courtois with a fierce volley after another dangerous long throw. At the opposite end, Beiranvand remained equal to the task, producing two excellent low saves to keep out Maxim De Cuyper.'The Save of the World Cup?' Iran GK Beiranvand's Unreal Double Stop Leaves Belgium Stunned | VIDEOBelgium's task became significantly harder in the 66th minute when Nathan Ngoy was shown a straight red card. The defender's heavy touch allowed Taremi to race clear, forcing Ngoy to bring him down as the last man.Despite enjoying a numerical advantage for the closing stages, Iran were unable to find the breakthrough against a resilient Belgian defence. Courtois and company held firm to secure a point, leaving both teams with two draws from two matches and plenty still to play for in the race to qualify from Group G.

Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand produced an astonishing double save in the 60th minute to help his side clinch another point in their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in the USA. The 33-year-old threw his body across the goal twice in a matter of seconds to deny Maxim De Cuyper from point-blank range. The breathtaking sequence not only kept Iran alive but also delivered one of the most iconic images and moments of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Belgium had turned up the pressure after the restart, with Kevin De Bruyne orchestrating another attack. The midfielder's delicate pass split the Iranian defence and found De Cuyper unmarked inside the box. His first-time effort appeared destined for the back of the net, but Beiranvand flung himself full stretch to his left to palm the ball away.BEIRANVAND! WHAT A SAVE! pic.twitter.com/xXPUutNxE3— The Modern-Day GK (@themoderndaygk) June 21, 2026 The rebound fell kindly back to De Cuyper, who looked certain to convert at the second attempt. Somehow, Beiranvand recovered instantly and stretched out once again to make a remarkable second save, leaving Belgian players in disbelief and fans around the world applauding one of the tournament's greatest goalkeeping moments.The overhead image of Beiranvand lying fully outstretched across his goalmouth, fingertips meeting the ball at full extension, has already become one of the defining photographs of the tournament—a snapshot of determination, instinct and extraordinary athleticism.Offside Drama! Iran's Mehdi Taremi Denied Goal In US During FIFA World Cup 2026 Clash Against Belgium | VIDEOFor Iran, Beiranvand's double save meant much more than keeping Belgium at bay. It reflected the spirit of a team that has spent the World Cup overcoming challenges off the pitch as well. Based in Tijuana because of U.S. travel restrictions, Iran have faced constant cross-border travel and limited recovery time, with coach Amir Ghalenoei saying the team had less than 16 hours to prepare for Belgium.Against those odds, Beiranvand's heroics became a symbol of Iran's resilience. His stunning double save was not just a defining World Cup moment—it was a reminder that this team continues to fight, no matter the obstacles.