Iran keeper stands tall in draw vs. 10-man Belgium...
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- Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves as Iran's goalkeeper in the 0-0 World Cup draw with Belgium, matching Thibaut Courtois's excellence at the other end.
- Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy received a straight red card in the 66th minute after miskicking a ball backward and then fouling Mehdi Taremi to prevent a clean breakaway.
- Iran couldn't capitalize on the man advantage, with Belgium actually generating better late scoring chances, including a Maxim De Cuyper opportunity denied in the 86th minute.
- Both teams left with their second straight draw in group play, leaving neither side with a win through two matches.
- Belgium haven't scored from open play across 53 consecutive World Cup shots dating back to their lone goal in three dismal games at Qatar 2022.
- Iran's World Cup preparation was thrown into chaos by U.S. travel restrictions and visa denials, forcing a training-base relocation from Arizona to Mexico and infuriating coach Amir Ghalenoei.
- Ghalenoei sent out the oldest starting XI at a World Cup match since 1966, per ESPN Research, leaning on experience to compensate for the disrupted preparation.
Why it matters: Both teams are winless through two group matches, but Iran's failure to beat a 10-man Belgium—ranked 10th by FIFA and playing before a diaspora-heavy crowd—squanders a golden opportunity and deepens a group-stage crisis for both sides. Belgium's 53-shot scoreless streak across two tournaments signals an attacking implosion for a star-studded squad that has now gone 15 competitive matches unbeaten yet cannot find the net.
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