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Ten-man Belgium were near frustrated aft being held to a 0-0 gully by a determined Iran successful their World Cup Group G clash successful Los Angeles connected Sunday (June 21, 2026), failing to find a mode past the stubborn Iranian defence.
Belgium’s hopes were dealt a stroke successful the 66th infinitesimal erstwhile defender Nathan Ngoy was shown a consecutive reddish paper for bringing down Mehdi Taremi aft the Iranian guardant had intercepted the defender’s mishit attempted walk and was done connected goal.
Yet contempt their numerical advantage, Iran struggled to capitalise, creating small arsenic the Belgians launched a bid of attacks and cranked up the pressure successful the last minutes.
Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand repeatedly saved his broadside with important interventions, including an bonzer halt from a point-blank-range effort from Maxim De Cuyper successful the 2nd half.
Iran person 2 points and volition next look Egypt successful Seattle on Friday portion Belgium, besides connected 2 points, play New Zealand successful Vancouver.
Belgium dominated the archetypal fractional but created fewer wide opportunities, their attacks failing successful beforehand of goal.
The opening exchanges acceptable a carnal code erstwhile Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku was yellow-carded three minutes successful for a lunging effort astatine a shot successful beforehand of extremity that enactment Beiranvand connected the writer for minutes.
Iran recovered the nett conscionable earlier the first-half hydration interruption erstwhile a escaped footwear allowed Ehsan Hajisafi to marque a clever walk done the partition to Taremi, who scored but was ruled offside pursuing a VAR check.
Belgium manager Rudi Garcia had said connected Saturday that Lukaku needed his playing clip managed, but started with the striker against Iran and kept him connected the transportation until the 74th minute.
Iran’s squad person been forced to enactment extracurricular the U.S. betwixt matches owed to bonzer measures by the American government, which has also banned a fig of Iran squad unit and officials.
The ambiance was charged, with Iran’s squad receiving large cheers earlier the lucifer and chants of “I-ran, I-ran” passim from vocal supporters who outnumbered Belgium fans successful the much than 70,000-seat stadium.
While determination were tiny protests extracurricular the stadium and pre-revolutionary flags being flown and worn some extracurricular and inside, the pre-match governmental strength was muted compared to their opener, which coincided with the announcement of a U.S.-Iran bid agreement.
