Cape Verde and Uruguay were listed for a Group G World Cup 2026 match while Belgium and Iran finished 0-0, a result that left qualification for the round of 16 open. Beiranvand, the Iran goalkeeper, made repeated saves and ended the match as MVP.
Beiranvand slows Belgium
Belgium created the first danger at the terzo minuto when De Bruyne served Lukaku in the area, then De Cuyper forced a save at the nono minuto. Iran answered at the 14esimo minuto when Kanaani shot and Courtois saved, before Tielemans tested Beiranvand at the 22esimo minuto and De Cuyper tried a volley at the 44esimo minuto.
The match stayed tight through 8 minuti di recupero, and the score remained 0-0 at halftime. Beiranvand kept stopping Belgium efforts, and Courtois also made important saves for Belgium.
VAR and the offside call
Iran had the clearest complication of the match at a free kick around the 25 metri mark, when Taremi scored but VAR ruled the goal offside. That decision preserved Belgium’s chance to leave with a point, but it also left Iran without the lead that their set-piece move briefly suggested.
Ngoy changed the rhythm at the 66esimo minute after a clumsy back pass error led to a red card. Belgium then had to manage the final phase with one player less, while Iran protected the draw that kept Group G qualification unresolved.
Belgium and Iran next
The draw keeps the path to the round of 16 tied to the last group matches. Belgium will face New Zealand, and Iran will face Egypt, with the group still open after this scoreless meeting.
For Cape Verde and Uruguay, the listed lineups signaled how much the wider Group G picture already depended on every match in the section: Uruguay lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Muslera, Varela, Caceres, Olivera, Sanabria, Ugarte, Bentancur, Canobbio, Valverde, M. Araujo and Vinas, while Capo Verde used a 4-1-4-1 with Vozinha, Moreira, Lopes, Borges, Lopes Cabral, Pina, Mendes, Arcanjo, Monteiro, Rodrigues and Banchimol. The race stays open because neither Belgium nor Iran solved the final margin they needed.
