Belgium face goal drought after 69 shots without scoring

The Red Devils entered Monday’s group match against Iran still winless, having failed to score in 69 World Cup shots since Michy Batshuayi’s goal against Canada in 2022. The goalless draw left Belgium needing goals against New Zealand to reach the knockout stage. Belgium’s 1-1 stalemate with Egypt was secured by an own goal from Mohamed Hany. Against Iran, the Belgians mustered 23 attempts on target without finding the net. The 23-shot effort marked the first goalless match for Belgium since the 1994 World Cup encounter with Saudi Arabia, where they recorded 28 shots. That 1994 fixture remains the only previous instance of a Belgian side failing to score after a comparable volume of attempts.

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The last Belgian World Cup goal was netted by Michy Batshuayi in the 1-0 win over Canada at the 2022 tournament. Since then Belgium endured a 0-2 loss to Morocco and a 0-0 stalemate with Croatia, extending their goalless run to four consecutive matches. A victory over New Zealand now represents Belgium’s only realistic route to the knockout phase. The team must convert their abundant chances into goals to avoid another tournament exit.

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Opta data shows Belgium have taken 69 shots in World Cup play since their last goal. The drought underscores the urgency of breaking their scoring slump before Saturday’s encounter. Belgium will hope their scoring touch returns before Saturday’s match. The upcoming game offers a chance to end the barren spell and keep tournament hopes alive.