2026 World Cup: Valuable draw for Iran against Belgium

Pars Today – Iran's national football team earned a draw against Belgium in its second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to Pars Today, citing Fars News Agency, Iran's national football team faced Belgium in its second Group G match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday. The match kicked off at 10:30 p.m. Tehran time and ended in a draw.

At the end of the match, Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was named Man of the Match.

With this result, Iran moved to the top of Group G with two points. Belgium also has two points but sits second due to having scored fewer goals. New Zealand and Egypt, each with one point, occupy the next positions in the group.

Araghchi: From the Football Pitch to the Negotiating Table, Our Goal Is to Defend the Dignity and Pride of the Iranian People

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on his social media page: “From the football field to the negotiating table and the battlefield, every step we take as Iranians is part of a larger struggle: defending the dignity and pride of our beloved people.”

Arab Media: Beiranvand guarded Iran's goal like the Strait of Hormuz

Following the outstanding performance of Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand against Belgium in Iran's second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Arab media outlets wrote that he protected Iran's goal "like the Strait of Hormuz," stopping seven shots.

Praising Beiranvand's display, Arab media reported that despite facing numerous restrictions during the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Iran managed to earn a valuable point against Belgium. In the match, Beiranvand kept a clean sheet by saving at least seven shots from inside the penalty area and was deservedly named Man of the Match.

The website of Algeria's El Khabar newspaper likened Beiranvand's performance to the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a barrier that Belgian attackers were unable to pass.

The Arab 48 news website wrote that Iran kept its hopes of advancing alive with a valuable 0-0 draw against Belgium. The report added that Iran's national team, which had set up its training camp in Mexico due to the war and sanctions and faced significant restrictions on entry to the United States, received enthusiastic support from Iranian residents of Los Angeles at the stadium. Many Iranian fans, draped in Iranian flags, chanted “Iran, Iran” throughout the match.

Iran's national football team will face Egypt in Seattle on Friday.