Iran, New Zealand play to 2-2 draw to keep Group G tied up with 1 point apiece
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- New Zealand and Iran played to a 2-2 draw in their 2026 World Cup Group G opener, with New Zealand twice taking the lead before Iran equalized each time.
- Elijah Just scored both goals for New Zealand, assisted by Chris Wood, while Iran's goals came from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi.
- Despite New Zealand having more possession and scoring opportunities, Iran's goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made six saves to keep the match level.
- The draw leaves all four Group G teams—New Zealand, Iran, Belgium, and Egypt—with one point each after their opening matches.
- Iran's World Cup participation occurred amid protests outside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, reflecting tensions due to Iran's ongoing conflict with the host nation, the USA.
