Once a street sleeper, now a World Cup hero

Never had a roof over his head, never had to do small jobs to feed his stomach. That Alireza Beiranvand is now one of the heroes keeping Iran's World Cup dream alive.

Iran drew 0-0 against Belgium in the 2026 World Cup. Although Belgium was ahead in attack throughout the match, Iran's experienced goalkeeper Beiranvand repeatedly stood in the way of the goal. His one save after another ultimately brought Iran a crucial point.

Belgium created several scoring opportunities in the match held in Los Angeles. However, Beiranvand's tenacity with the Iranian defense frustrated Belgium. One of his great saves in the second half of the match came into particular discussion. He once again showed how ready he is to handle pressure on the big stage by stopping a shot from close range.

Iran also had a chance in the match. Mehdi Taremi once sent the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Later, Iran got an extra advantage when Belgium's Nathan Ngoy was shown a red card. However, they were unable to take advantage of that opportunity to win.

Beiranvand's story is not only about the field, but also about life. He was born into a nomadic family in the Lorestan region of Iran. Although he dreamed of becoming a footballer as a child, his path was not easy. Overcoming family and financial difficulties, he moved to Tehran as a teenager. There, he sometimes slept on the streets, sometimes worked in factories, car washes and other jobs.

However, difficult times could not stop him. He gradually made his way into professional football. Later, he got a chance in the Iranian national team and proved himself on the world stage. He came into the spotlight by saving Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty in the 2018 World Cup. This time, a glimpse of that experience was also seen against Belgium.

This draw is not just a point for Iran; it is a big message of confidence. They will need a good result against Egypt in their next match to keep their hopes of a knockout in the group stage alive. In that match too, Beiranvand's solid presence under the goalposts will be a big boost for Iran.