Two nations who have never reached a World Cup last-16 are suddenly 90 minutes away from doing exactly that — and Group G, quietly, has become the most compelling story of the tournament so far.
Alireza Beiranvand has been here before — the Iranian goalkeeper who grew up homeless, who once slept outside Persepolis's training ground just to be noticed, who has spent a career making the improbable feel routine. Approaching the hour mark against Belgium, with Iran holding on and the match in the balance, he produced the save that may define his country's entire World Cup campaign. According to The Guardian, it denied Belgium what would have been a lead — and in doing so, kept Iran's historic knockout dream breathing.
Belgium finished the match with ten men after Nathan Ngoy was sent off, a numerical disadvantage that Iran pressed but could not convert into a winner. The match ended in a draw — the exact score was not confirmed at time of publication. A point each. Which, depending on what happens in the other Group G fixture, could be enough to send Iran through to the knockout stages for the very first time in their history.
While Belgium and Iran were settling their account, New Zealand were facing Egypt in a match that was still live at time of publication — no result confirmed. The All Whites, appearing at just their third-ever World Cup, need a result to reach the last 16 for the first time. That sentence should not be possible to write with a straight face, and yet here we are.
New Zealand's World Cup record reads like a cautionary tale about qualification windows and continental misfortune. They have been here before and gone home early. This time the group has opened up in a way that makes the unthinkable genuinely achievable.
Group G was supposed to be Belgium's to navigate. Red Devils, experienced squad, the kind of side that arrives at tournaments with expectations attached. Instead they are sitting on a draw against Iran, down to ten men, watching the permutations shift around them.
The underdogs did not just survive — they dictated the terms. Beiranvand's save was the moment the group changed shape. Belgium needed three points and left with one. Iran needed not to lose and did exactly that. The maths now favour the team nobody picked.
If New Zealand get their result against Egypt, Group G will have sent two first-time qualifiers into the last 16 of a World Cup. That is not a footnote. That is the story of the tournament.
Beiranvand did not celebrate the final whistle like a man who had just secured a draw. He looked like a man who knew exactly what he had done.
Two nations who have never reached a World Cup last-16 are suddenly 90 minutes away from doing exactly that — and Group G, quietly, has become the most compelling story of the tournament so far.
Fontes
The Guardian — Football
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“Stays on World Cup — different angle, same beat.”
SELEÇÕESAlireza Beiranvand stood between Belgium and everything they needed — and he didn't move. Seven saves, a clean sheet, and Iran sit top of World Cup Group G after a 0-0 draw in Los Angeles that could g
“Stays on World Cup — different angle, same beat.”
SELEÇÕESAlireza Beiranvand stood between Belgium and everything they needed — and he didn't move. Seven saves, a clean sheet, and Iran sit top of World Cup Group G after a 0-0 draw in Los Angeles that could g
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