Iran's World Cup draw with Belgium hailed as 'historic achievement'

Iran's national football team achieved a significant 0-0 draw against Belgium in the 2026 World Cup, a result that keeps their hopes alive for advancing to the knockout stage for the first time. Coach Amir Ghalenoei described the achievement as "a great accomplishment" that will be written in the history of Iranian football.

Despite facing considerable logistical hurdles, including less than 16 hours of training before the match and difficulties with travel between their base in Tijuana and venues in the United States, the team remained undefeated. Ghalenoei praised his players' commitment, stating they played "with their hearts" and would be remembered by future generations. He also expressed gratitude for the support from Iranians, acknowledging their unifying energy.

Although Iran played with a man advantage for over half an hour following a red card to Belgium's Nathan Ngoy, Ghalenoei admitted the team failed to capitalize on the opportunity. "We went for the three points, but none of our changes worked, and we were lucky not to lose," he confessed. With two points from two matches, Iran's path to the next round hinges on their upcoming game against Egypt.

Iranian winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh urged his teammates to remain focused. "Today was an incredible performance, but we cannot relax for the next match against Egypt. The most important thing now is to recover well and be ready," he said. The team's primary objective remains to reach the next round of the tournament.