Alireza Beiranvand at the 2026 World Cup: How Iran’s Goalkeeper Performed at the Tournament

Last updated: Jul 2, 2026

Alireza Beiranvand was Iran’s standout performer at the 2026 World Cup, keeping the team competitive through three group games including a man-of-the-match display against Belgium before Iran were eliminated at the group stage. The 33-year-old goalkeeper made seven saves to earn a 0-0 draw with Belgium in Los Angeles on 21 June, one of the finest individual performances of the group stage.

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Who is Alireza Beiranvand?

Beiranvand is Iran’s first-choice goalkeeper and one of the most recognisable players in Asian football. He was born on 21 September 1992 in Khorramabad, in Iran’s Lorestan province.

Club: Tractor, in the Persian Gulf Pro League, the league he returned to after a spell in Europe.
Caps: 89 for Iran across three World Cups, as of the 2026 tournament.

He is also a genuine record holder between the posts, with two Guinness World Records to his name.

Longest throw: 61.0026m, set against South Korea on 11 October 2016.
Longest drop kick: 78.014m, for Persepolis against Zob Ahan on 17 April 2019.

Beiranvand’s road to a third World Cup

He has been a senior international since his debut in 2015 and previously played at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. His club career has taken him through several of Iranian and European football’s notable names.

Naft Tehran: his early professional club from 2011.
Persepolis: where he won multiple league titles and became Iran’s number one.
Royal Antwerp and Boavista: his move to Europe, taking in Belgium and Portugal.
Tractor: his current club back home, which he joined in 2024.

That European experience, including time in Belgium, made his goalless duel with the Belgians at this World Cup a fitting subplot.

How he performed at World Cup 2026

Beiranvand was one of the goalkeepers of the group stage, anchoring an Iran side that competed hard in all three games. Iran were placed in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.

Iran 2-2 New Zealand (15 June, Los Angeles)

Iran opened with a 2-2 draw with New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area. Beiranvand was beaten twice by Elijah Just, but Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi struck back to rescue a point.

Belgium 0-0 Iran (21 June, Los Angeles)

His standout night came against Belgium, again at SoFi Stadium, where he made seven saves to keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw. That total included a remarkable point-blank stop to deny Maxim De Cuyper in the 85th minute.

The performance earned him the Player of the Match award. Belgium were reduced to ten men when Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the 66th minute for fouling Mehdi Taremi on a clear breakaway, but it was Beiranvand’s shot-stopping that secured the point.

Egypt 1-1 Iran (26 June, Seattle)

In the decisive final group game, Iran drew 1-1 with Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle. A stoppage-time Shoja Khalilzadeh effort that would have won it for Iran was ruled out by VAR for offside.

Across the three games, his tournament contribution stood out.

Seven saves vs Belgium: including diving stops, point-blank blocks and high claims under heavy pressure.
Player of the Match vs Belgium: his reward for keeping a fancied Belgian side scoreless despite 23 shots.
Three competitive performances: Beiranvand conceded just twice across the group stage in open play.

Check out Iran’s World Cup match schedule with our guide.

Iran exit at the group stage

Iran finished third in Group G with three points and were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. The 1-1 draw with Egypt on 26 June at Lumen Field in Seattle was not enough to earn a place among the eight best third-placed teams.

Senegal took the last of those qualifying spots, edging Iran out on goal difference. The final Group G standings were as follows.

1st: Belgium — 5 points (qualified)
2nd: Egypt — 5 points (qualified)
3rd: Iran — 3 points (eliminated)
4th: New Zealand — 1 point (eliminated)

For fans who followed Iran’s journey, Group G was played across west-coast venues in the Los Angeles area, Seattle and Vancouver.

Planning a trip around the knockout rounds

Even with Iran out, the host cities that staged their games remain busy through July as the tournament heads into the knockout rounds. Wego can help with flights, hotels and live flight status wherever the World Cup takes you next.

Los Angeles: compare flights to Los Angeles and hotels in Los Angeles.
Seattle: compare flights to Seattle and hotels in Seattle.
Vancouver: compare flights to Vancouver and hotels in Vancouver.

Track live availability on the Wego flight tracker, or check specific carriers such as Turkish Airlines for routes connecting through the Gulf and Europe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Alireza Beiranvand and which club does he play for?

He is 33, born on 21 September 1992. He currently plays for Tractor in Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League.

How has Beiranvand played at the 2026 World Cup?

He helped Iran draw 2-2 with New Zealand and 0-0 with Belgium, the latter earning him the Player of the Match award for a seven-save shutout. Iran then drew 1-1 with Egypt to finish third in the group and exit the tournament.

Did Iran qualify from the group stage?

No. Iran finished third in Group G on three points and missed out on the eight best third-placed spots to Senegal on goal difference.

What world records does Beiranvand hold?

He holds Guinness World Records for the longest throw (61.0026m) and the longest drop kick (78.014m). Both came earlier in his career in Iranian football.

Sources

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