Belgium Stall as VAR Red Card Drama Rocks LA
Belgium’s World Cup campaign hit a wall as VAR controversy and Nathan Ngoy’s red card forced a goalless draw with Iran.
Ngoy Dismissal Turns Game Upside Down
A goalless stalemate at Los Angeles Stadium left Belgium reeling after a turbulent Group G encounter against Iran. Nathan Ngoy’s second-half red card and a VAR-ruled offside that wiped out Mehdi Taremi’s opener combined to make this one of the most contentious draws of the entire tournament. Belgium dominated possession but were ultimately undone by their own indiscipline in the California heat.
The red card arrived around the hour mark when centre-back Ngoy hauled down the charging Taremi to receive a straight dismissal. Up until that flashpoint, Thibaut Courtois had been the busier of the two goalkeepers, making a string of important saves to keep Belgium level. With a man advantage, Iran poured forward and threatened to punish a Belgian side stunned into disarray by the loss of their defender.
Taremi Goal Wiped Out by Agonising Offside Call
Before the red card, Iran believed they had broken the deadlock when Taremi bundled home from a well-rehearsed free-kick routine — only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal out for a marginal offside. Iran’s players were furious, and frustration spread around the stadium. Beiranvand then made three sharp saves at the other end to keep the clean sheet intact and preserve Iran’s hard-earned point in a group where every draw feels significant.
Belgium now face a must-win finale to stay alive in the tournament, knowing any further defensive frailty could bring an early exit. Iran, buoyed by their spirited showing against one of Europe’s heavyweights, sense an historic upset is firmly within their grasp if they maintain discipline through to the knockouts.
