Iran frustrate 10-man Belgium in World Cup stalemate as Nathan Ngoy sees red

Iran’s goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand at full stretch to deny Belgium. Photograph: Mark J Terrill/AP View image in fullscreen Iran’s goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand at full stretch to deny Belgium. Photograph: Mark J Terrill/AP World Cup 2026 Iran’s Beiranvand denies 10-man Belgium in World Cup draw as Nathan Ngoy sees red Ben Fisher at Los Angeles Stadium Sun 21 Jun 2026 17.16 EDT Last modified on Mon 22 Jun 2026 00.49 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google There was simply no debate over the moment of the match and it is one that Iran will cherish, even more so if they are to progress to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time. Every angle of Alireza Beiranvand’s preposterous save to prevent Belgium taking the lead approaching the hour added to the miraculousness of it all. Perhaps the most ludicrous element was that Beiranvand appeared to have been eliminated from the game when the ball dropped at the feet of Maxim De Cuyper inside the six-yard box, the goal gaping. Yet, while scrambling on the turf after seesawing to his left in an attempt to intercept Kevin De Bruyne’s rolled cross, Beiranvand stuck out a strong left hand to shut the door in the face of De Cuyper, before smothering the ball.