Belgium Player Ratings vs Iran: A Disappointing Draw at the 2026 World Cup
Belgium's quest for a victory in the 2026 World Cup continues after a 0-0 draw with Iran, hampered by Nathan Ngoy's red card and Thibaut Courtois's crucial saves.
Belgium's pursuit of their first win at the 2026 World Cup remains unfulfilled as they managed only a scoreless draw against Iran on Sunday. The match was further complicated by Nathan Ngoy's red card, which dashed any hopes the team had of securing a late goal, particularly in the absence of the impactful Jeremy Doku, who was sidelined due to illness.
Throughout the first half, Belgium controlled both possession and field position, but they were heavily reliant on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to maintain a clean sheet. Courtois demonstrated exceptional reflexes, notably stopping a shot from Hossein Kanaani. Additionally, Mehdi Taremi had a goal disallowed by VAR due to a marginal offside decision.
At the opposite end, Youri Tielemans and Maxim De Cuyper both tested Iran's goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, but Belgium struggled to generate clear scoring chances in and around the penalty area.
Early in the second half, Courtois was called into action again, successfully parrying away another attempt from Taremi. Beiranvand made a remarkable save to deny De Cuyper, who looked poised to score after a cross from Kevin De Bruyne was not cleared.
Belgium faced a significant setback midway through the second half when Ngoy mishandled a back-pass and subsequently fouled Taremi as he advanced towards goal, resulting in his dismissal. Despite being a man down, Belgium almost broke the deadlock when De Cuyper was again thwarted by Beiranvand.
This draw leaves Belgium with only two points from their first two matches, meaning they must secure a win against New Zealand on Friday to ensure their progression to the knockout stages.
The player ratings for Belgium's squad, as assessed by GOAL, reflect the performance of the team: Courtois was praised for his world-class saves against both Kanaani and Taremi, although he may feel he could have done better with the disallowed goal. De Cuyper made several dangerous crosses but faded as an attacking presence and faced challenges defensively.
Ngoy had previously shown composure and skill but faltered with a critical mistake leading to his sending-off. Other players, like Tielemans, were noted for their attempts to pressure the Iranian defense but struggled to create significant chances. Kevin De Bruyne's absence was felt, as replacements Raskin and Saelemaekers did not make a significant impact.
Lukaku's performance was also under scrutiny, as he appeared out of form, raising questions about his role moving forward in the tournament. The team now faces mounting pressure as they prepare for their crucial match against New Zealand.
