FIFA World Cup 2026: Iran may have settled for a goalless draw against Belgium, but the Asian side still made history on American soil by breaking a record that had stood for six decades. The Group G clash, played in Los Angeles, saw Iran achieve a remarkable milestone while producing a disciplined defensive display against one of Europe’s strongest teams.

Iran Become Oldest Starting Team in World Cup History

As soon as Iran stepped onto the field, they entered the record books. The Iranian starting XI had an average age of 32 years and 181 days, making them the oldest team ever to start a FIFA World Cup match since the tournament began tracking such records.

The achievement surpassed a record that had stood since the 1966 FIFA World Cup, highlighting the experience and maturity within the Iranian squad.

Experienced Iran Hold Belgium to a Draw

Iran's veteran players showcased their composure and tactical discipline throughout the match. Despite facing constant pressure from Belgium, the team remained organized at the back and successfully denied their opponents a breakthrough goal.

Belgium dominated possession and created several scoring opportunities, but Iran’s defensive unit stood firm until the final whistle.

VAR Denies Iran an Early Lead

Iran thought they had taken the lead in the first half through star striker Mehdi Taremi, who found the net from a free-kick situation.

Celebrations, however, were short-lived. After a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), Taremi was ruled marginally offside, and the goal was disallowed.

The decision kept the match level and denied Iran what could have been a historic winning goal.

Belgium Waste 23 Goal Attempts

Belgium launched wave after wave of attacks and finished the match with 23 shots, but none managed to beat Iran’s impressive goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.

The Iranian shot-stopper delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament, making crucial saves and frustrating Belgium’s attacking stars throughout the contest.

Red Card Changes the Game

Belgium’s problems increased in the second half when defender Nathan Ngoy received a straight red card in the 66th minute.

Ngoy brought down Mehdi Taremi as the Iranian forward attempted to break through on goal. The referee deemed the challenge worthy of a dismissal, leaving Belgium with only ten players for the remainder of the match.

The sending-off marked the eighth red card of the FIFA World Cup 2026 so far.

A Valuable Result for Iran

While the match ended 0-0, Iran will take significant confidence from both the result and the historic record. Holding a strong Belgian side scoreless demonstrated the team's defensive resilience and experience.

The draw also keeps Iran's hopes alive in Group G as they continue their campaign in the tournament.

With a record-breaking lineup and a determined performance against one of Europe's top teams, Iran has already ensured its place in the history books at the FIFA World Cup 2026.