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Belgium’s search for their first victory at the 2026 World Cup continues as the Red Devils were held to a goalless draw by Iran on Sunday. Nathan Ngoy’s red card dashed any late hopes for Rudi Garcia’s side, who found it difficult to create clear chances in the absence of the unwell Jeremy Doku.

Belgium dominated both possession and territory throughout a disjointed first half but had Thibaut Courtois to thank for keeping the scoreline intact. The Real Madrid shot-stopper made a stunning save to deny Hossein Kanaani, while Mehdi Taremi saw a goal chalked off by VAR for a marginal offside.

At the opposite end, Youri Tielemans and Maxim De Cuyper both tested Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, but the Red Devils struggled to carve out decisive chances near the box.

Early in the second half, Courtois was once again alert, beating away an effort from Taremi, while Beiranvand produced a remarkable save to thwart De Cuyper from point-blank range after Kevin De Bruyne’s cross caused chaos in the area.

Belgium’s night worsened midway through the second half when Ngoy’s misjudged back-pass forced him to pull down Taremi, earning him an inevitable red card. Despite being reduced to ten men, Belgium nearly snatched victory, only for De Cuyper to be denied yet again by the inspired Beiranvand.

The result leaves Belgium on two points from their opening two fixtures, meaning a win against New Zealand on Friday is essential to ensure progression to the knockout phase.

Here’s how Belgium’s players fared in Los Angeles:

Goalkeeper & Defence

Thibaut Courtois (8/10): Displayed his trademark sharp reflexes to keep out attempts from Kanaani and Taremi. May feel he could have done better with Taremi’s disallowed goal, but VAR spared him.

Thomas Meunier (5/10): Delivered a few promising crosses early on but faded as an attacking threat and looked vulnerable defensively.

Nathan Ngoy (4/10): Composed in possession for much of the match, only for one costly lapse that saw him bring down Taremi and receive a red card.

Brandon Mechele (5/10): Occasionally sluggish when Iran advanced. Spent long periods recycling possession without much risk.

Maxim De Cuyper (7/10): Came closest to scoring for Belgium, forcing two strong saves from Beiranvand in the first half and another after the break. His surging runs down the flank were a constant menace.

Midfield

Nicolas Raskin (5/10): Saw plenty of the ball but opted for safe passes to maintain control. Substituted before the hour mark for Vanaken.

Youri Tielemans (6/10): Played a few intelligent forward passes and forced a save with a first-half strike. Couldn’t impose himself as much later in the game.

Kevin De Bruyne (6/10): Endured a physical battle but consistently looked to drive play forward and create openings. Mixed end product in the final third.

Attack

Alexis Saelemaekers (5/10): Technically sound when on the ball but lacked end product in terms of crosses or shots. Withdrawn before the hour mark.

Romelu Lukaku (4/10): Making his first start for club or country in over a year, the striker appeared short of match sharpness. Showed glimpses of good hold-up play but little beyond that.

Leandro Trossard (7/10): Looked lively when running at Iran’s defenders and linked up well with De Bruyne.

Substitutes & Manager

Timothy Castagne (6/10): Provided stability after replacing Meunier early in the second half.

Hans Vanaken (5/10): Fired over shortly after coming on and struggled to influence proceedings.

Dodi Lukebakio (6/10): Added energy and came close to a late winner with a long-range strike after moving into a central role.

Arthur Theate (6/10): Introduced to reinforce the defence following Ngoy’s dismissal.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo (N/A): Came on for De Bruyne in the closing stages.

Rudi Garcia (4/10): Missing Doku was a setback, but Raskin and Saelemaekers failed to make an impact. Lukaku looked ineffective as a starter and might have been better used from the bench. The coach faces major decisions ahead of the must-win clash with New Zealand.