“This is how we protect our land”: Ghalibaf hails Beiranvand after World Cup draw with Belgium
The head of Iran’s negotiating team has posted a widely circulated photo from the national football team’s match against Belgium on X, writing, “This is how we protect our land”.
In a post on X early Monday, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf shared the message following Iran's World Cup match against Belgium.
The two teams met on Sunday night in the second round of the 2026 World Cup group stage, where the match ended in a goalless draw that earned Amir Ghalenoei’s side a valuable point.
Alireza Beiranvand was the standout performer, keeping Iran’s goal intact with several impressive saves.
The Iranian goalkeeper repeatedly stopped Belgium’s dangerous attacks and played a decisive role in securing the result.
At the end of the match, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) named Beiranvand as the player of the match and awarded the “Asian Eagle” the special prize for the game.