Emma KempUpdated June 22, 2026 — 6:49am,first published 5:12am6.49amThis gives Iran a massive chanceBy It’s hard to tell if Taremi would have actually scored when he was that distance from goal, but he might well have. And if Belgium want to take a silver lining from this, they might be a man down but at least they’re not a goal down.What Iran decide to do with this opportunity is their choice entirely. They can push for three points here, which would be more exciting for the viewer. Or they could hold on for a draw, which would also work in their favour.Amid all of that drama I haven’t even mentioned the several substitutions.For Iran, Mohebi and Hajisafi have called it a day and are replaced by Torabi and Mohammadi.For Belgium, Saelemaekers, Meunier and Raskin have taken their leave and are replaced by Castagne, Vanaken and Lukebakio.Now Lukaku comes off and Theate comes on, and Iran’s Ghoddos makes way for Moghanlou.Belgium 0-0 Iran, 79 minutes6.38amRed card! Belgium’s Ngoy is sent off!By Ngoy makes his first mistake when he is dispossessed just inside his own half after a clumsy attempt at a backpass.He makes his second mistake when, I assume in panic, he grabs at and brings down Taremi, who had grabbed the ball and is now denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.Ngoy is in shock. His hand is on his forehead, his eyeballs popping, as the referee goes to his pocket and pulls out a straight red. There was no indecision on that one. He ran straight over.Belgium 0-0 Iran, 66 minutesNgoy fouls Taremi.Getty ImagesNathan Ngoy can’t believe it.AP Photo/GREGORY BULL6.32amChance! Belgium do not score … but how?By De Bruyne pounces on a ball from Trossard and massages it almost to the byline before crossing back across goal. De Cuyper is in space and takes a shot. He should score that, but is soon surrounded by several Iran defenders. That was the chance right there.Belgium 0-0 Iran, 59 minutes6.28amThe second half is under way!By It starts with a substitution, as Iran defender Hardani comes off and is replaced by forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh. Iran played the first half with a back five, but I wonder if this means they are going to try and properly hunt for a goal.What that looks like in the opening minutes of the second half is Belgian’s attack bearing down on Iran’s goal. Still, they cannot find a way through. Iran’s defence is like overgrown scrub; there is no clear path and every potential opening is blocked by curling vines and other rough terrain type plant matter.Now that I’m done with that terrible analogy, I can report some cold, hard facts. Trossard goes down, visibly in pain, for what we soon learn was a nasty studs-to-calf tackle that has torn his sock to shreds.Belgium 0-0 Iran, 49 minutes6.09amWatch parties in TehranBy Fans watch a live broadcast at a bookstore converted into a World Cup viewing venue in Tehran.AP Photo/Vahid SalemiFans watch a live broadcast of the World Cup Group G match between Iran and Belgium at a bookstore converted into a World Cup viewing venue.AP Photo/Vahid Salemi6.07amMatch report: Spain 4-0 Saudi ArabiaBy Teenage star Lamine Yamal scored the opening goal in his first World Cup start, Mikel Oyarzabal added a first-half brace, and Spain eased to a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Sunday’s Group H clash in Atlanta.Oyarzabal also provided the assist on Yamal’s opener as Spain rebounded from their shock 0-0 draw against Cape Verde to open the tournament. Marc Cucurella’s volley forced a Saudi own-goal shortly after half-time to complete the scoring as the Spaniards extended their unbeaten run in competitive fixtures to 33 matches.Yamal celebrates with Rodri.FIFA via Getty ImagesBarring an upset win by Cape Verde later today against Uruguay, Spain can win the group if they beat Uruguay in the group finale in Zapopan, Mexico, this week. That could mean they avoid a round-of-32 match with Argentina, and possibly set up a quarter-final with co-hosts United States if both teams progress that far. Saudi Arabia can still finish third in their group and potentially reach the knockout phase with a win against Cape Verde.Yamal and Oyarzabal were both removed at half-time by manager Luis de la Fuente, though neither appeared to pick up an injury. The 18-year-old Yamal had played only the final 20 minutes against Cape Verde as he continues regaining fitness after suffering a torn hamstring that ended his club season with Barcelona in April.6.00amIran coach accuses World Cup coaches of silence over treatmentBy Iran manager Amir Ghalenoei has claimed he has been shunned by the other 47 managers at the World Cup and said his squad had suffered further disruption after FIFA’s attempts to fix their latest travel chaos failed.Iran flew into Los Angeles on Saturday at lunchtime (LA time) before their second Group G game against Belgium at the SoFi Stadium on Sunday.Ghalenoei – who said Iran felt “robbed” over their treatment by World Cup organisers – claimed none of his managerial counterparts at the tournament have responded to his questions. “We have many challenges, especially off the pitch,” he said. “I asked the 47 other coaches a question and none of them have responded to me.”Asked if he felt the support of the other nations, Ghalenoei added: “No, I have not seen [that]. I have not had any reaction from anyone. But it seems like the honourable coach of Belgium [Rudi Garcia] said [in his press conference] we are here for football and not politics.Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei at SoFi Stadium during Iran’s clash with Belgium.AP Photo/Gregory Bull5.59amHalf-time: Belgium 0-0 IranBy Iran will retreat to the change rooms happy to have held their opponents out for the first stanza. Belgium will go down the tunnel confident that a goal is coming. But they will have to break Iran down, and that will be tough given the discipline shown so far.Iran’s Ali Nemati clears the ball past Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku.AP Photo/Andre PennerLukaku had a maybe moment before the whistle but couldn’t make contact with De Bruyne’s cross. He’d had another maybe moment a few minutes earlier, holding up the ball on the edge of the area and beating one man before being swarmed immediately by more.5.52amDe Bruyne coming in for some attentionBy Not the caring, concerned kind, but the crunched-under-tackles variety. In the 35th minute, he gets up from one, limps around a bit, then takes off again without a worry. In the 37th minute, he’s hacked down again under a challenge from Taremi. And once more in the 38th minute, at which point the referee delivers a warning and awards Belgium a free kick.Kevin De Bruyne tries to control the ball past Hossein Kanani.AP Photo/Andre PennerDe Bruyne is looking central to Belgium’s approach to this game, as they utilise the pitch’s width and send the ball in for him or Tielemans. That or cross it to Lukaku.De Bruyne might need a zimmer frame by the end of this, though. He’s commented before on his national team’s ageing squad, and they are another week older than they were last week, when they drew with Egypt.There will be eight added minutes to this first half.Belgium 0-0 Iran, 44 minutes5.36amCrisis averted for BelgiumBy They’ve had all the ball – 75 per cent of it – and already made eight shots, which is a bit wild. Only two on target though. Iran have enjoyed some nice forays too, but it felt like they were slightly on the back foot before that free kick. Belgium continue as they were, with another attack and Meunier making a cross in from the right that Beiranvand takes just before the first hydration break.Belgium 0-0 Iran, 31 minutes1 of 2