Player statistic
1st half
| 7' | Elijah Just (Assist: Chris Wood) | |||
| Ramin Rezaeian (Assist: Shahriar Moghanlou) |
33' |
2nd half
| 54' | Elijah Just (Assist: Chris Wood) | |||
| Mohammad Mohebi (Assist: Ramin Rezaeian) |
64' | |||
| Ehsan Hajsafi | 90' |
Match statistic
48
Possession
52
17
Total shots
14
4
Shots on target
8
8
Shots off target
4
5
Blocked shots
2
4
Corners
1
2
Offsides
0
10
Fouls
8
Additional information
Attendance
70108
Result Iran - New Zealand, Monday, 15 June 2026, World Cup Group G
What an exhilarating thriller!!!! Iran and New Zealand ended their opening Group G match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a thrilling 2-2 draw. The game took place on Monday, June 15, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. New Zealand's Elijah Just managed to put his team ahead twice, but Iran responded each time with goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi. Kudos also to Chris Wood for providing both assists to Elijah! They truly make a dynamic duo.
It's worth mentioning that Ramin Rezaeian became the first Iranian player 🇮🇷 to score in a World Cup since he himself did against Wales 🏴 in November 2022.
This was the first game for both teams in the tournament, with Iran being the favored side, while New Zealand's "All Whites" are considered major underdogs.
👉 Click here for Full 2026 World Cup Squad Lists – Confirmed rosters for all 48 teams.
👉 Click here for 2026 World Cup Group Stage Standings.
In the 7th minute, Elijah Just scores! A fantastic combination play between Wood and Just, with the number 11 giving the New Zealand team the lead with a precise right-footed shot from inside the box, hitting just under the crossbar.

In the 32nd minute, Ramin Rezaeian found the back of the net, bringing Iran level with New Zealand in the first half. Moghanloo made a run in the box, his shot was blocked, and the ball fell to Rezaeian, who calmly equalized with a right-footed finish. Ramin Rezaeian becomes the first Iranian player 🇮🇷 to score in the World Cup since he did so against Wales 🏴 in November 2022.

Photo via x.com/DAZNFootball
In the 54th minute, Elijah Just puts New Zealand back in the lead! After some nice passing between Just and Wood, the latter sets up number 11, who coolly slots it in to regain the advantage for New Zealand. It only took Wood seven minutes after the match began to link up with Just for New Zealand’s second goal, and once again, he provided his teammate with a crucial assist.


In the 64th minute, a goal by Mohammad Mohebi equalizes for Iran. Rezaiean settles Ghoddos’ switch of play with a helpful first touch before whipping a superb cross to the edge of the six-yard box for the completely unmarked Mohebbi, who guides it past the helpless Crocombe with a well-placed header!


y FIFA World Cup Tickets
Sports, Football, Soccer, FIFA World Cup Tickets

World Cup Group G Matchday 1
🇮🇷 Iran 2 - 2 New Zealand 🇳🇿
Monday, 15 June 2026
Venue: SoFi Stadium,
Inglewood, California.
FIFA Rankings: Iran is ranked 20th globally, while New Zealand ranks 85th, making them the lowest-ranked team in the tournament
Referee: Cesar Ramos MEX
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin MEX
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Bisguerra MEX
Fourth Official: Yusuke Araki JPN
Reserve AR: Jun Mihara JPN
⚽️ Goals: 7', 54' Elijah Just (N), 32' Ramin Rezaeian (I), 64' Mohammad Mohebi (I)
🟨 Yellow Cards:
✅ Official lineups - Tabellino:
What an exhilarating thriller!!!! Iran and New Zealand ended their opening Group G match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a thrilling 2-2 draw. The game took place on Monday, June 15, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. New Zealand's Elijah Just managed to put his team ahead twice, but Iran responded each time with goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi. Kudos also to Chris Wood for providing both assists to Elijah! They truly make a dynamic duo.
It's worth mentioning that Ramin Rezaeian became the first Iranian player 🇮🇷 to score in a World Cup since he himself did against Wales 🏴 in November 2022.
This was the first game for both teams in the tournament, with Iran being the favored side, while New Zealand's "All Whites" are considered major underdogs.
👉 There are no Serie A players either with Iran or New Zealand.
👉 Click here for Full 2026 World Cup Squad Lists – Confirmed rosters for all 48 teams.
👉 Click here for 2026 World Cup Group Stage Standings.
Group G
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points | For | Against | Current form | Next Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Iran |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | D???? | |
| 2 |
New Zealand |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | D???? | |
| 3 |
Belgium |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | D???? | |
| 4 |
Egypt |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | D???? |
Knockout
Possible knockout
🏆👉 🇮🇷 Iran 0 - 1 New Zealand 🇳🇿
In the 7th minute, Elijah Just scores! A fantastic combination play between Wood and Just, with the number 11 giving the New Zealand team the lead with a precise right-footed shot from inside the box, hitting just under the crossbar.

🏆👉 🇮🇷 Iran 1 - 1 New Zealand 🇳🇿
In the 32nd minute, Ramin Rezaeian found the back of the net, bringing Iran level with New Zealand in the first half. Moghanloo made a run in the box, his shot was blocked, and the ball fell to Rezaeian, who calmly equalized with a right-footed finish. Ramin Rezaeian becomes the first Iranian player 🇮🇷 to score in the World Cup since he did so against Wales 🏴 in November 2022.
Photo via x.com/DAZNFootball
🏆👉 🇮🇷 Iran 1 - 2 New Zealand 🇳🇿
In the 54th minute, Elijah Just puts New Zealand back in the lead! After some nice passing between Just and Wood, the latter sets up number 11, who coolly slots it in to regain the advantage for New Zealand. It only took Wood seven minutes after the match began to link up with Just for New Zealand’s second goal, and once again, he provided his teammate with a crucial assist.
🏆👉 🇮🇷 Iran 2 - 2 New Zealand 🇳🇿
In the 64th minute, a goal by Mohammad Mohebi equalizes for Iran. Rezaiean settles Ghoddos’ switch of play with a helpful first touch before whipping a superb cross to the edge of the six-yard box for the completely unmarked Mohebbi, who guides it past the helpless Crocombe with a well-placed header!

Iran World Cup 2026 squad:
- Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan).
- Defenders: Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati, Shojae Khalilzadeh, Hossein Kanaanizadegan, Danial Eiri, Ramin Rezaeian, Saleh Hardani.
- Midfielders: Saman Ghoddos (Kalba, UAE), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shahab al-Ahli, UAE), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda, UAE), Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Amirmohammad. Razzaghinia, Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov, Rus), Mehdi Torabi, Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr, UAE), Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Aria Yousefi.
- Forwards: Mehdi Taremi (Olympiakos, Gre), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, Ali Alipour, Shahriyar Moghanlou (Kalba, UAE), Dennis Eckert (Standard Liege, Bel)
New Zealand World Cup 2026 Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe (Millwall), Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdansk, on loan from Bournemouth), Michael Woud (Auckland FC)
- Defenders: Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix), Francis de Vries (Auckland FC), Tyler Bindon (Nottingham Forest), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Liberato Cacace (Wrexham), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Finn Surman (Portland Timbers), Callan Elliot (Auckland FC), Tommy Smith (Braintree Town)
- Midfielders: Joe Bell (Viking FK), Matthew Garbett (Peterborough United), Marko Stamenic (Swansea City), Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix), Ben Old (Saint-Étienne), Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg IF), Lachlan Bayliss (Newcastle Jets), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle)
- Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers), Eli Just (Motherwell), Jesse Randall (Auckland FC), Ben Waine (Port Vale), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)

y FIFA World Cup Tickets
Sports, Football, Soccer, FIFA World Cup Tickets

🇮🇷 Iran 2 - 2 New Zealand 🇳🇿
Monday, 15 June 2026
Venue: SoFi Stadium,
Inglewood, California.
FIFA Rankings: Iran is ranked 20th globally, while New Zealand ranks 85th, making them the lowest-ranked team in the tournament
Referee: Cesar Ramos MEX
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin MEX
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Bisguerra MEX
Fourth Official: Yusuke Araki JPN
Reserve AR: Jun Mihara JPN
⚽️ Goals: 7', 54' Elijah Just (N), 32' Ramin Rezaeian (I), 64' Mohammad Mohebi (I)
🟨 Yellow Cards:
✅ Official lineups - Tabellino:
Iran
New Zealand
Starting lineups
Substitutes
Iran
New Zealand




