Belgium’s World Cup campaign stalled further on Sunday as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a disciplined Iran at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The result leaves the 2018 semi-finalists without a victory after two Group G outings, having previously drawn 1-1 with Egypt. Iran, who had also drawn their opener against New Zealand, thought they had taken a first-half lead when Mehdi Taremi finished a cleverly worked free-kick routine in the 25th minute, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review ruled the striker marginally offside. The match then pivoted on a 66th-minute red card shown to Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy, who misjudged a backpass and hauled down Taremi as the forward bore down on goal.

Belgium dominated possession throughout, at times exceeding 70 per cent, and registered 22 shots to Iran’s seven. Yet their attacking moves repeatedly foundered against a compact Iranian defensive block that shifted between a back five and a back six. Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans probed from midfield, while Romelu Lukaku, starting after a substitute appearance in the first match, was largely isolated and received an early yellow card for a heavy challenge on goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. The Iranian keeper emerged as the game’s pivotal figure, making seven saves, including a remarkable double stop in the 59th minute when he denied Maxim De Cuyper from point-blank range after De Bruyne’s cutback.

Ngoy’s dismissal forced Belgium to play the final 24 minutes with ten men, yet the numerical disadvantage did not decisively tilt the contest. Iran, despite the extra man, struggled to create clear openings, and it was Belgium who generated the more dangerous late chances. Thibaut Courtois, making a record-extending 17th World Cup appearance for his country, matched Beiranvand’s excellence with sharp saves from Hossein Kanaani in the first half and Taremi after the interval. The stalemate extended Belgium’s winless run at World Cups to four matches, a streak not seen since the period between 1994 and 2002.

Both sides now sit on two points in a Group G that remains entirely open. Iran lead the group on goals scored, with Belgium second, while Egypt and New Zealand each have one point ahead of their meeting later on Sunday. The Iranian squad, operating under US travel restrictions that require them to fly in from their training base in Mexico only hours before matches, have nonetheless taken four points from two games for the first time in their World Cup history. The atmosphere inside the stadium reflected Los Angeles’s large Iranian diaspora: the national anthem was audibly booed by sections of the crowd, though the players themselves were warmly cheered during the match.

Qualification will now be decided in the final round of group fixtures on Saturday. Belgium travel to Vancouver to face New Zealand, the lowest-ranked side in the tournament, knowing that only a win will guarantee progress. Iran head to Seattle to meet Egypt, where a point could suffice depending on the other result. After two draws apiece, neither team can afford another slip.