Another goalkeeping masterclass from an underdog, another frustrated favourite. Iran's Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves in Los Angeles — including a point-blank reflex stop to deny Maxim De Cuyper early in the second half — to keep Belgium's misfiring attack at bay and earn a goalless draw. Belgium had 70% of the ball and 622 passes but couldn't find a way through; their wait for a first goal of the tournament goes on.

It got harder still on 66 minutes, when Nathan Ngoy miscontrolled, hauled down Mehdi Taremi as the striker raced clear, and was sent off — leaving Belgium to see out the draw with ten men. At the other end Thibaut Courtois had to be sharp too, the veteran equalling Enzo Scifo's Belgian record of 17 World Cup appearances. Iran top the tightest group at the tournament; Belgium sit second, both on two points.

Weird & wonderful

In a tournament already defined by goalkeepers — Curaçao's Eloy Room chief among them — Beiranvand added another chapter: seven saves, a clean sheet against one of the favourites, and a reminder that Group G has now produced almost nothing but deadlock.

Belgium controlled everything but the scoreboard: 70% possession, 622 passes and 1.82 xG to Iran’s 0.63, yet no goal. The gap between dominance and the 0-0 result is the story of Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand’s seven saves, headlined by a point-blank stop to deny De Cuyper. Belgium’s task got harder when Nathan Ngoy was sent off on 66 minutes for a last-man foul on Taremi, and even with the extra man Iran’s low block — and their keeper — held firm to share the points in the tournament’s tightest group.