**Mike Penders’ Belgium were held to a 0-0 draw by Iran in their second 2026 World Cup Group G match in Los Angeles, leaving the Chelsea goalkeeper’s national side still searching for a first win at the tournament.**
Penders was part of the Belgium squad for the fixture, with Chelsea’s official site noting that the Red Devils had 23 shots but could not break down Iran. The result leaves Belgium third in Group G before Friday’s final game against New Zealand, [according to Chelsea’s match update](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/penders-belgium-still-in-search-of-first-world-cup-2026-win).
Chelsea have another Penders watchpoint before New Zealand
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The Chelsea angle is simple: Penders may not yet be Belgium’s starting goalkeeper, but this is still a high-value tournament experience for a young player the club have tracked closely since his move from Genk.
ReadChelsea had already flagged Penders as [a World Cup story worth following](https://readchelsea.com/2026/06/15/mike-penders-chelsea-world-cup-belgium-egypt/) when Belgium opened their campaign. That interest now sharpens because Belgium’s final group match carries real jeopardy.
Iran’s defensive resistance and Alireza Beiranvand’s saves ensured Belgium’s attacking pressure went unrewarded, while Nathan Ngoy’s red card added another complication. For Chelsea supporters, the next question is whether Penders remains on the bench or edges closer to involvement as Belgium try to rescue their route into the knockouts.
Either way, Friday now matters. Penders’ tournament has moved from a background Chelsea watch to a pressure point inside Belgium’s wider World Cup campaign.