Iran coach hails unbeaten World Cup start after Belgium draw

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei praised his team‍‍`s resilience after a goalless draw against Belgium, describing the unbeaten start to the FIFA World Cup as a significant milestone for Iranian football.

The result leaves Iran with two points from two matches in Group G and keeps alive its hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in the country‍‍`s history.

Speaking after Sunday‍‍`s match in Los Angeles, Ghalenoei commended his players for their determination under challenging circumstances, highlighting the logistical difficulties the team has faced throughout the tournament.

The Iranian squad has been based in Mexico and has repeatedly travelled to the United States for matches, a situation the coach believes has complicated preparations. Despite those challenges, Iran secured draws against both New Zealand and Belgium to remain firmly in contention for qualification.

Ghalenoei said the team‍‍`s performances reflected the commitment and sacrifice of the players, who had limited time to train before facing Belgium, one of the highest-ranked teams in the tournament.

The Iranian coach also thanked supporters who turned out for the match, saying the backing from fans provided the squad with extra motivation despite political divisions among Iranians living abroad.

Belgium were reduced to 10 men in the second half following a red card, but Ghalenoei acknowledged that his side had been tested by the quality of their opponents and was satisfied with the point earned.

Attention now turns to Iran‍‍`s final group-stage match against Egypt in Seattle next week. With qualification still within reach, the coach said the team must quickly recover and focus on securing a positive result.

Midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh echoed his coach‍‍`s optimism, praising the team‍‍`s spirit and determination. He said the players are eager to avoid a repeat of the disappointment suffered at the previous World Cup, when Iran narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout rounds.

Iran‍‍`s final group match is expected to be decisive, with the outcome likely to determine whether Team Melli can make history by advancing beyond the group stage for the first time.