10-Man Belgium Held by Iran in Goalless Draw: Lukaku Off the Pace as Red Devils’ World Cup 2026 Crisis Deepens

Belgium’s wait for a first win at the 2026 World Cup goes on. Rudi Garcia’s side were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Iran on Sunday, with Nathan Ngoy’s red card killing any hope of a late winner and Romelu Lukaku looking well off the pace throughout. For England fans tracking the tournament bracket, Belgium’s continued struggles tell an increasingly important story.

Lukaku Anonymous: A Performance to Forget

Romelu Lukaku was as poor as he has been in recent memory for Belgium. The Red Devils’ all-time record goalscorer had little impact on a game that desperately needed his presence — losing aerial duels, failing to hold the ball up and offering no threat in behind. It was the kind of display that raises serious questions about whether Lukaku still has the level to carry Belgium deep into a World Cup tournament.

The absence of Jeremy Doku through illness made things considerably harder. The Manchester City winger is Belgium’s most dynamic attacker — the player who creates chaos from which Lukaku profits — and without him, Garcia’s side lacked the width and penetration to trouble a well-organised Iran backline. Belgium dominated possession in a stop-start first half but created precious little of genuine quality.

Ngoy’s Red Card Kills Belgium’s Hopes

Nathan Ngoy’s dismissal was the moment that truly ended Belgium’s chances of claiming all three points. Reduced to 10 men, Garcia’s side could not find the energy or quality to break down Iran’s defensive shape, and the Iranians were content to sit deep and see the game out from there.

The suspension Ngoy picks up ahead of Belgium’s must-win final group game is yet another headache for Garcia, who must now reshuffle his defensive options at the worst possible time. Belgium are running critically short of time to rescue their World Cup 2026 campaign.

Courtois the Lone Bright Spot for Belgium

Thibaut Courtois was outstanding when called upon, making a number of crucial saves to ensure Belgium at least left the pitch with a point. The Real Madrid goalkeeper remains world-class and has been Belgium’s standout performer in what has otherwise been a deeply disappointing tournament. Without him, this could easily have been a defeat.

The fact that Belgium’s best player is their goalkeeper rather than one of their attacking stars says everything about where this campaign has gone wrong. Courtois cannot score goals — and that remains the team’s fundamental, unanswered problem heading into the knockout-or-bust finale.

What Belgium’s Crisis Means for England and the Bracket

For England supporters, Belgium’s continued implosion is worth tracking very carefully. A Belgium side now low on confidence, short on firepower, missing Doku and facing Ngoy’s suspension is a considerably more manageable proposition in the knockout rounds than they appeared on paper before the tournament. England, who have had their own inconsistencies in this World Cup 2026, would welcome a weakened Belgium in their potential path.

If Garcia’s side fail to win their final group game and crash out at the group stage, it removes one of Europe’s most technically gifted squads from the bracket entirely. The 2026 World Cup is offering genuine opportunities to nations that believe in their structure and their system — and England will want to be in a position to exploit them when it matters most.

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