⚽ FIFA WORLD CUP 2026: Iran 2 - 2 New Zealand ⚽
2 - 2
📖 Match Story & Commentary
Iran and New Zealand played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in their opening Group G encounter at the Los Angeles Stadium. Against a politically charged backdrop, both teams delivered an end-to-end classic that kept over 70,000 fans on the edge of their seats.
The All Whites took a shock early lead just seven minutes into the match. Captain Chris Wood held up the ball brilliantly and released Elijah Just, who clinically volleyed it home through traffic to make it 1-0. Despite the early setback, Iran settled into the game and leveled the score in the 32nd minute. Ramin Rezaeian capitalized on a loose ball inside the penalty area and cleverly finished with the outside of his boot past goalkeeper Max Crocombe.
Early in the second half, the Wood-to-Just connection worked perfectly once again. Wood slid a precise pass into the path of the 26-year-old forward, and Just hammered it past Alireza Beiranvand to secure his brace and restore New Zealand's advantage in the 54th minute. Refusing to back down, Iran ramped up the pressure. Ten minutes later (64'
, goalscorer Rezaeian turned provider, delivering an inch-perfect cross that found Mohammad Mohebi, who powered a header in off the inside of the post to make it 2-2. Both teams pushed hard for a late winner but ultimately had to settle for a hard-fought point.📋 Key Match Stats
- Goals: R. Rezaeian (32', M. Mohebi (64' [IRN] | E. Just (7', 54' [NZL]
- Yellow Cards: E. Hajsafi (88' [IRN]
- Venue: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, California
📺 Watch Match Highlights & Updates
Catch up on full match replays and extended highlights here:
FIFA+ Official Highlights
Sky Sports Match Highlights
Al Jazeera Match Updates