Beiranvand Shines as Iran Holds Belgium to 0-0 Draw in World Cup

Beiranvand Shines as Iran Holds Belgium to 0-0 Draw in World Cup Group G
By Chen Jun, The Paper — June 22, 2026

A 0-0 draw pushed title contenders Belgium closer to the edge of the cliff. After two consecutive draws, Belgium has lost not only the initiative to top the group but also the final glory of their golden generation.

For Iran, a draw was as precious as a victory. Goalkeeper Beiranvand made crucial saves, and the entire team stood united, responding to all the injustices and grievances they have faced since the start of this World Cup.

On June 22, Beijing time, Belgium and Iran faced off in Group G. During the match, N'Goy received a red card for a foul, leaving Belgium to play with 10 men. Both sides battled fiercely throughout the game, ultimately settling for a 0-0 stalemate.

Belgium dominated possession with 71%, had 20 shots to Iran's 6, and 7 on target to Iran's 3. Iran's 33-year-old goalkeeper Beiranvand delivered a heroic performance, keeping a clean sheet. The BBC commented: "Iran executed their low-block defense to perfection, and Beiranvand single-handedly shut out a Belgium squad worth over €500 million."

After the match, Beiranvand, who made seven saves, received a perfect rating of 10. So far in this tournament, only three players have achieved such a flawless score: Messi (hat-trick), Curaçao goalkeeper Room (15 saves), and Iran's Beiranvand.

Iran's head coach Galeano revealed that the team's entry application was temporarily rejected before the match, leaving them with less than 16 hours of preparation time and only half of their regular tactical training completed. Despite this, Galeano believes Iran has seen hope for advancing.

Spain swept Saudi Arabia 4-0, with Yamal scoring his first World Cup goal. At 18 years and 343 days old, Yamal became the second-youngest World Cup goalscorer in Spanish history.