Belgium's aspirations at the 2026 World Cup have been cast into doubt following a frustrating goalless draw against Iran in Los Angeles. The result leaves Group G finely balanced, with all four teams now on two points after two matches, setting up a tense final round of group fixtures.
The 'Red Devils' dominated possession and created numerous opportunities, but their inability to convert chances proved costly. They registered 23 shots in the match without finding the net, the highest number of shots without scoring in a World Cup game since 1994, according to Opta. This profligacy has been a recurring theme for Belgium, who have not scored a goal from open play in their two World Cup matches so far, with their only point against Egypt coming via an own goal.
Iran's goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, was the standout performer, making seven crucial saves to earn his side a valuable point and securing the Player of the Match award. His performance was just one save shy of the Iranian World Cup record set by Nasser Hejazi in 1978. Iran also had a goal disallowed for offside and encroachment in the first half, adding to the drama.
Belgium's struggles were compounded by a second-half red card for Ngoy, who was dismissed for bringing down Mehdi Taremi after a loose back pass. Manager Rudy Garcia expressed disappointment with his team's 'hesitancy' and lack of 'efficiency up front'. Pundits, including Patrick Vieira, have highlighted concerns over the match fitness of key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, while Roy Keane criticised the team's overall performance, citing a lack of conviction and sub-par decision-making.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made history by setting a new World Cup record for the most saves in a 90-minute match, as his team held Ecuador to a surprise 0-0 draw. The specific number of saves was not disclosed in the immediate reports but confirmed as a record-breaking feat. Attention now turns to upcoming fixtures, including Uruguay vs Cape Verde, as teams battle for progression.