Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday, June 15, in a pulsating, end-to-end Group G opener that delivered four well-worked goals and left the entire group deadlocked after the opening round of fixtures.
Elijah Just gave New Zealand the lead twice, in the 7th and 54th minutes, but Iran responded on both occasions through Ramin Rezaeian in the 33rd minute and Mohammad Mohebbi in the 64th, with Rezaeian also turning provider for the second equaliser.
Watch Iran vs New Zealand Highlights
Full match highlights from Iran vs New Zealand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are available to watch now. Watch below:
Match Details
- Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group G
- Date: Monday, 15 June 2026
- Venue: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Result: Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Goalscorers
- Iran: Ramin Rezaeian (33′), Mohammad Mohebbi (64′)
- New Zealand: Elijah Just (7′, 54′)
First Half: Just Strikes Early, Rezaeian Responds
New Zealand made the perfect start in front of a vocal Los Angeles crowd, with Elijah Just giving the underdogs an early lead inside seven minutes. It was a statement of intent from a New Zealand side determined to show that their underdog status in Group G would not translate into passive football, and for a spell it appeared Iran were genuinely rattled.
Amir Ghalenoei’s side regrouped, however, and found their equaliser on 33 minutes through Ramin Rezaeian, finishing off the back of a superbly worked move that demonstrated the attacking quality Iran possess heading into this tournament. The goal settled the contest and ensured the two sides went into half-time level, with the pattern of the match, end-to-end, attacking, and unpredictable, already firmly established.
Second Half: Two More Goals, All Square Again
Elijah Just struck again early in the second half, restoring New Zealand’s lead on 54 minutes with his second goal of the match and underlining his importance to Darren Bazeley’s side in this tournament. It looked, briefly, as though New Zealand might be on course for one of the most famous results in their World Cup history.
Iran, though, responded for a second time. Ramin Rezaeian turned provider on this occasion, setting up Mohammad Mohebbi to fire home Iran’s second equaliser on 64 minutes. All four goals across the match came from superbly worked moves rather than scrappy or fortunate finishes, a detail that underlined the genuine quality on display from both sides. The remainder of the match continued in the same attacking spirit, with Iran’s Ezatolahi nodding a stoppage-time corner across the face of goal, only for New Zealand’s Thomas to intervene at the crucial moment and preserve the point for the visitors.
Group G Now Wide Open
The result leaves Group G entirely deadlocked after Matchday 1, with all four teams, Iran, New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, picking up exactly one point apiece following their respective draws. It sets up a fascinating second round of fixtures, with every side knowing that a win in their next match could open up a significant gap at the top of the group.
Key Stats
- All four goals in the match came from well-worked attacking moves rather than set pieces or individual errors.
- Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand, in the 7th and 54th minutes.
- Ramin Rezaeian was involved in both Iran goals, scoring the first and assisting the second.
- Group G is entirely level after Matchday 1, with all four teams on one point each.
- New Zealand were without Chris Wood and Tyler Bindon through injury heading into the match.
What Comes Next
Iran face Belgium next, a side who themselves were held 1-1 by Egypt earlier on Matchday 1. New Zealand take on Egypt in the same round of fixtures, a meeting between two sides both still searching for their first win of the tournament. With Group G locked at one point apiece for every team, both upcoming matches carry significant weight for qualification hopes.
This article was updated following the final whistle on 15 June 2026. All statistics are sourced from FIFA, ESPN, and Al Jazeera.
