Iran Draws Against Belgium, Leaves Handwritten Note Mentioning 'Minab 168'

[Anchor]

The Iranian national team, currently enduring a grueling schedule due to strict U.S. government policies, has kept its hopes of reaching the Round of 32 alive after a draw against the powerhouse Belgium. The team left a message in the stadium locker room mourning elementary school students killed in a U.S. airstrike before returning to their base camp in Mexico.

Lee Sung-hoon reports.

[Reporter]

Before the match, the atmosphere outside the LA stadium was chaotic, with Iranian expatriates divided into pro-government and anti-government factions engaging in heated arguments. Even as fans opposed to the current Iranian regime booed during the national anthem, the Iranian team stood toe-to-toe with the strong Belgian side.

In the 25th minute of the first half, during a free-kick situation, players positioned within the defensive wall cleverly created space, allowing Taremi to find the back of the net with a left-footed shot. However, the goal was disallowed due to an offside call, leaving the team frustrated.

In defense, goalkeeper Beiranvand’s spectacular performance shone through.

He blocked seven decisive shots, with the highlight coming in the 14th minute of the second half when he stretched out while falling to stop a ball that was crossing the goal line.

Iran gained a numerical advantage in the 21st minute of the second half following the expulsion of Belgian center-back Ngoy, but they were unable to score and finished with a 0-0 draw, marking their second consecutive stalemate.

[Jahanbakhsh / Iran National Team Captain: We have already said enough about the situation we are in. I think we showed unity and played a great game as a team.]

Following U.S. government policy, the Iranian team returned directly to their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, after the match. However, they drew attention by leaving a handwritten note in the stadium locker room expressing gratitude for the kindness of LA citizens.

The note also included the name of the city, Minab, where 168 elementary school students were killed in a U.S. airstrike last March.

Having recorded two consecutive draws, Iran will aim for their first-ever advancement to the knockout stage in their final group match against Egypt on June 27.

(Video Editing: Ha Sung-won)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.