Iran and Belgium played out a tense 0-0 draw on Sunday in Los Angeles, leaving Group G wide open and raising the possibility of an early World Cup exit for the Red Devils.
Despite boasting a star-studded lineup that included Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Belgium struggled to break down a disciplined Iranian side and were ultimately forced to settle for a point after being reduced to 10 men.
Iran created the better opportunities throughout the contest and thought they had taken the lead in the first half when striker Mehdi Taremi finished off a cleverly worked free-kick routine. However, the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Belgium dominated possession but found it difficult to penetrate Iran’s compact defensive setup. Lukaku’s headed effort in the 36th minute was the closest the Europeans came before halftime.
Iran continued to threaten on the counterattack, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois producing key saves to deny Hossein Kanani and Taremi.
The turning point came in the second half when Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy was shown a red card after bringing down Taremi, who was through on goal following a misplaced back pass.
Belgium attempted to push forward despite being a man down, with Maxim De Cuyper and substitute Hans Vanaken both going close, but Iran held firm to secure a valuable point.
The result means all three matches played so far in Group G have ended in draws. Belgium move to two points and will face New Zealand in their final group game, while Iran will take on Egypt in a crucial encounter that could determine qualification to the knockout stage.
Off the pitch, members of Los Angeles’ Persian exile community staged protests against Iran’s government outside the stadium, while Iran’s national anthem was met with boos and whistles before kickoff.
With qualification still in the balance, both teams now head into their final group fixtures knowing that every point could prove decisive.
