Iran and New Zealand delivered one of the most entertaining matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 so far, sharing a breathless 2-2 draw at Los Angeles Stadium in Group G after a game full of momentum swings, end-to-end attacks, and late drama.
New Zealand striker Elijah Just lit up the first half with pace, power, and precision, while Iran responded twice through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi, ensuring the points were ultimately shared in a contest both sides will feel they could have won.
The All Whites started brightly and got their reward inside seven minutes when Elijah Just finished off a well-worked move to silence the Iranian backline.
Iran responded quickly with possession and territory, but New Zealand remained dangerous on the counter, with Chris Wood’s physical presence causing problems throughout the opening stages.
Iran respond as Rezaeian levels the game. Iran slowly grew into the match and found their equaliser through Ramin Rezaeian, who finished clinically after sustained pressure.
The goal shifted momentum firmly in Iran’s favour, but New Zealand held firm under increasing pressure and looked threatening whenever they broke forward.
By half-time, the match was finely balanced, with both sides showing enough quality to suggest more goals were coming.
After the break, New Zealand came out with renewed intensity, and Elijah Just struck again to restore their lead.
The forward finished smartly after another sharp attacking move, completing a brace and putting Iran under real pressure for the first time in the second half.
Despite that setback, Iran refused to fold and continued to push forward in search of another equaliser.
Iran’s persistence paid off as Mohammad Mohebi powered home a header late on, sparking celebrations and frustration in equal measure.
New Zealand were left to reflect on missed chances, while Iran’s resilience ensured they left Los Angeles with a valuable point.
Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but neither could find the decisive breakthrough as the match ended level.
With Belgium and Egypt also drawing in the group’s other fixture, all four teams in Group G now sit level on points after the opening round.
Iran will see this as a solid recovery from going behind twice, while New Zealand will feel they let a historic win slip away after twice holding the lead.
Either way, the match confirmed Group G is shaping up to be one of the most competitive at the tournament.
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