Roy Keane did not hold back during ITV's coverage of the 2026 World Cup, branding Belgium's goalless draw with Iran as 'rubbish' on Sunday evening. The former Manchester United captain's blunt assessment came after a lackluster performance from Rudi Garcia's side, who entered the match as heavy favorites.
Belgium's Struggles Against Iran
Belgium, ranked 10th in the FIFA world rankings—12 places above Iran—failed to create significant chances throughout the 90 minutes. The match, played at the Los Angeles Stadium, saw Iran come close to scoring early in the first half. Ehsan Hajsafi, standing over a free-kick 30 yards out, executed a clever pass reminiscent of Teun Koopmeiners' assist for Wout Weghorst in the Netherlands' 2022 clash with Argentina. Hajsafi slipped the ball to Mehdi Taremi, who burst past Belgium's wall and slotted into the bottom right corner. However, VAR quickly ruled Taremi offside, disallowing the goal.
Chances remained scarce for both sides. Belgium's predicament worsened in the 67th minute when defender Nathan Ngoy miskicked a backpass to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, allowing Taremi to latch onto the loose ball. Ngoy, the last man back, brought down the Iran forward and received a red card.
Keane's Verdict: 'Rubbish' Quality
After the match ended 0-0, ITV pundit Emma Hayes asked Keane about a quote from Bill Shankly. Keane responded: 'The time to judge a player is when you give him time on the ball. It's almost easier for Iran when they were sitting and defending. When they had the extra man, they almost didn't know what to do with it. In terms of the quality of the game, I thought it was rubbish. Really bad. Obviously, Belgium had a couple of really good chances, but the standard in terms of the passing, movement, decision-making...so poor.'
Group G Implications
Belgium have now failed to win either of their World Cup matches, following a 1-1 draw with Egypt in their opener. They face a must-win final Group G clash against New Zealand on Saturday, June 27, to have any chance of advancing to the knockout stages. Iran, meanwhile, have earned two draws in the tournament, having also held New Zealand to a goalless stalemate.
Controversy Before Kick-Off
The match was preceded by controversy as Iran's flag and national anthem were booed by spectators inside the stadium amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Similar jeers had been heard during Iran's previous match against New Zealand.
