Iran hold 10-man Belgium to keep World Cup knockout stage dream alive

Iran held a 10-man Belgium to a goalless draw at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, keeping alive their historic bid to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time, while protests unfolded outside the venue and Donald Trump issued threats of military action against the country hours before kick-off.

The result leaves Iran in a strong position in Group G. Should they beat Egypt — who drew with Belgium — and New Zealand fail to win their final fixture, Iran could clinch the group outright and make history.

The match was played against an extraordinary geopolitical backdrop. Earlier on Sunday, Trump told Fox News that the United States could seize the Strait of Hormuz by force if necessary, saying: “We may take over the Strait, if we have to. I’ll blow the s— out of them.” Senator Markwayne Mullin also alleged that an IRGC operative had attempted to enter the US posing as a member of Iran’s World Cup delegation.

Iran’s path to the tournament has been fraught with difficulty. Visas were withheld from several staff members, and the squad was forced to relocate their training base to Mexico despite all their group-stage fixtures being held in the United States.

On the pitch, Iran were far from passive. Mehdi Taremi appeared to find the net from a free-kick routine, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside and encroachment. Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was equally impressive at the other end, producing a stunning stop to deny Maxim De Cuyper after a driving move involving Kevin De Bruyne.

Belgium’s evening worsened significantly with 25 minutes remaining when defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off for playing a short back pass to Thibaut Courtois — a moment that handed Iran a numerical advantage they could not ultimately convert into a winner.

Rudi Garcia’s side now face mounting pressure heading into their final group game. The Red Devils have struggled to impose themselves on the tournament, and Sunday’s performance offered little to suggest a turnaround is imminent.

Before kick-off, Iran’s national anthem was met with loud jeers from sections of the crowd, as demonstrations continued outside the stadium — a reflection of the political tensions that have followed the squad throughout the competition. Iran had already taken a point from a draw with New Zealand earlier in the week, and their second successive stalemate underlines a defensive resilience that could yet carry them deep into the tournament.