FIFA World Cup 2026 · SoFi Stadium · Inglewood, Los Angeles · June 16 IST
Iran 2–2 New Zealand: Fifa World Cup 2026 Match Report
Tim H
Match Report & Goalkeeper Analysis
June 16, 2026
7 min read
```
🇮🇷
Iran
Team Melli · Group G
⚽ Rezaeian 32' (trivela · assist: Ghoddos)
⚽ Mohebbi 64' (header off far post · assist: Rezaeian)
2
–
2
Full Time
June 15/16, 2026
SoFi Stadium · Inglewood, California
GROUP G · MATCHDAY 1
🇳🇿
New Zealand
All Whites · Group G
⚽ Just 7' (volley · assist: Wood)
⚽ Just 54' (one-two · assist: Wood)
Match Summary
Iran and New Zealand drew 2-2 in Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles on June 15. New Zealand led twice through Elijah Just's brace — a 7th-minute volley and a 54th-minute one-two finish, both assisted by captain Chris Wood. Iran equalised twice — Ramin Rezaeian's 32nd-minute trivela finish (Ghoddos assist) and Mohammad Mohebbi's 64th-minute header off the far post (Rezaeian cross). Mehdi Taremi hit the post before Rezaeian's first equaliser. Ali Nemati had a header ruled out for offside in first-half stoppage time. Beiranvand made 6 saves for Iran, Crocombe several for New Zealand. Just became the first All White to score multiple goals in a World Cup match. All four Group G teams finish level on one point.
Los Angeles Delivers a Classic — Twice Behind, Iran Twice Come Back
SoFi Stadium was supposed to be the venue where Iran — ranked 20th in the world, with 10 qualifying goals from Taremi, arriving on a three-match winning streak — asserted their authority over the lowest-ranked team in the entire 2026 World Cup. Instead, New Zealand had other ideas. Elijah Just — a tricky Motherwell forward that perhaps one in a thousand people outside of Scotland had heard of before Monday — scored two goals and produced one of the great individual World Cup debut performances.
But Iran, to their enormous credit, refused to be beaten. They came back twice. Ramin Rezaeian — the right-back who is so much more than a right-back — scored a goal of genuine quality with the outside of his boot and then created Mohebbi's equaliser with a pinpoint cross. Taremi, who had already hit the post, threatened throughout. And Alireza Beiranvand, behind them, produced six saves to keep the scoreline from becoming considerably worse.
The result leaves Group G in exactly the same position as Group H — all four teams level on one point after Matchday 1. Belgium face Iran next. New Zealand face Egypt. Everything remains entirely open.
Match Timeline — Four Goals, a Post, a Disallowed Goal
3
Iran
⚡ Iran Blistering Start — Yousefi Tests Crocombe
Iran On Front Foot From Kick-Off
Iran came out at pace at SoFi Stadium. Aria Yousefi drove forward and tested Max Crocombe with a shot inside the first three minutes. Taremi was already causing problems in behind the New Zealand defensive line. SoFi Stadium sensed an early Iran goal was coming. Then New Zealand scored instead.
7
New Zealand
⚽ Goal — Iran 0-1 New Zealand
Elijah Just
Against the run of play and against all expectation. Max Crocombe launched a long ball forward from his goal kick. Chris Wood — the Nottingham Forest striker and All Whites captain — held the ball up expertly under pressure from two Iranian defenders, showed composure and awareness, and found Elijah Just in space outside the Iranian penalty area. Just took one touch and hammered a volley with pace and accuracy into the roof of the net. New Zealand 1-0 Iran. SoFi Stadium was stunned. Assist: Chris Wood.
22
Iran
🚨 POST — Taremi!
Mehdi Taremi Hits the Upright
Mehdi Taremi — Inter Milan striker, Iran's all-time leading scorer in qualifying — picked up the ball outside New Zealand's penalty area with defenders backing off and curled a beautiful 20-yard effort. The ball struck the inside of the post and rebounded back into play. Had it gone in, Iran would have led 2-1. Instead, just under ten minutes later, Iran found an equaliser by other means.
32
Iran
⚽ Goal — Iran 1-1 New Zealand
Ramin Rezaeian
A goal of genuine individual quality. Saman Ghoddos played a delicate first-time pass into the path of Ramin Rezaeian, who had made a surging run into the penalty area after Moghanlou had battled for a loose ball. Rezaeian did not square it, did not cross it — he shot with the outside of his right boot, a trivela finish of extraordinary confidence and skill, that gave Crocombe no chance whatsoever. Iran 1-1. SoFi Stadium erupted for the Iranian contingent. Assist: Saman Ghoddos. Rezaeian also became the first Iranian player to score and assist in the same World Cup game.
45+
Iran
🚫 GOAL DISALLOWED — Offside
Ali Nemati — Headed Rezaeian Free-Kick — OFFSIDE
Iran thought they had scored in first-half stoppage time. Ramin Rezaeian delivered a free-kick from the right that was perfectly placed for Ali Nemati, who connected with a header and guided the ball into the net. The celebrations began — and were immediately halted by the offside flag. VAR confirmed: Nemati had moved too early. The goal was ruled out. Iran went in level at 1-1 at the break, rather than leading. A significant moment that the entire second half narrative would be shaped around.
54
New Zealand
⚽ Goal — Iran 1-2 New Zealand
Elijah Just
The Just-Wood combination — again. Just drove forward with the ball nine minutes after the restart and played a neat one-two with his captain Chris Wood just outside Iran's penalty area. Wood's return pass split Iran's defensive line perfectly. Just ran onto it and finished with composure and clarity into the far corner past Beiranvand. 1-2 New Zealand. Elijah Just — in only his second ever World Cup appearance — had become the first New Zealand player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup match. Chris Wood — his second assist of the evening — had become the first All White to provide multiple assists in a single World Cup game. Assist: Chris Wood.
64
Iran
⚽ Goal — Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Mohammad Mohebbi
Iran responded within ten minutes. Ramin Rezaeian — who had already scored, who had already provided the assist for a disallowed goal, who had been Iran's best player throughout — now delivered a cross from the right flank that was so precisely placed it demanded only a header. Mohammad Mohebbi arrived at the back post and powered the ball into the net via the inside of the far post. 2-2. Equalisers back for Iran. Assist: Ramin Rezaeian. SoFi Stadium was deafening.
75
New Zealand
⚡ Beiranvand — NZ Late Pressure
Iran GK Crucial — Holds on for Draw
New Zealand pushed for a winner in the final quarter, with Beiranvand producing several more saves to keep Iran level. The Iranian goalkeeper — on his 82nd cap — was excellent throughout the second half under significant pressure. Ezatolahi's late corner also created a late chance for Iran that was cleared off the line by a New Zealand defender. Full time: 2-2. A draw that felt, uniquely, like both teams had won and lost simultaneously.
Full Match Statistics
Key Statistics
Possession
IRI: 47%NZL: 53%
Total Shots
IRI: 17NZL: 13
Shots on Target
IRI: 4NZL: 8
Beiranvand Saves
6
Stat
Iran 🇮🇷
New Zealand 🇳🇿
Goals
2
2
Scorers
Rezaeian 32' (trivela) · Mohebbi 64' (header)
Just 7' · Just 54' (both Ass: Wood)
Post
Taremi ~22' — curl struck the upright
—
Disallowed
Nemati header 45+' — ruled offside
—
Possesion
47%
53%
Shots / On Target
17 shots / 4 on target
13 shots / 8 on target
Beiranvand Saves
6
—
Just Record
First New Zealand player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup match
Wood Record
First All White to record multiple assists in a single World Cup game · Only 3rd player (last 3 WCs) to provide 2 assists to same teammate in one match
Rezaeian Record
First Iranian to score and assist in the same World Cup game
Venue
SoFi Stadium (home of LA Rams & LA Chargers) · Inglewood, California · June 15, 2026 · 70,108
Best Selling Revolution X Combi White
Best Selling Revolution X Combi Black
Goalkeeper Spotlight
🥅 Alireza Beiranvand — 6 Saves · Iran's Wall
Iran GK · 82nd Cap · NZ 8 Shots on Target
Saves
6
vs NZ's 8 SoT
Conceded
2
Both Just — quality finishes
Result
2–2
Iran comeback draw
Cap
82nd
Iran No.1
Alireza Beiranvand — Iran's long-serving number one making his 82nd international appearance — produced a solid, dependable performance in a match where New Zealand put eight shots on target. He was beaten twice by Just's clinical finishing — the first a volley into the roof of the net that no goalkeeper would have stopped, the second a precise far-corner finish after a one-two with Wood. Beyond those two concessions, Beiranvand was reliable throughout, dealing with New Zealand's second-half pressure competently and organising Iran's defensive line with experience. Six saves, both goals unsaveable, and a point secured — a professional evening from Iran's veteran keeper.
Max Crocombe — Tested and Solid
New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe had an eventful evening at SoFi Stadium. He was beaten by Rezaeian's trivela — a shot of such quality and precision that it would have beaten most goalkeepers — and by Mohebbi's header from Rezaeian's pinpoint cross, which was too well-placed for the goalkeeper to reach. Otherwise Crocombe dealt competently with Iran's attack — including distributing the long ball that led to Just's opening goal — and made several important saves to keep New Zealand in contention.
ES athlete Michael Woud was named in New Zealand's squad as the third-choice goalkeeper but did not feature in this match. Crocombe remains New Zealand's number one for Matchday 2 against Egypt.
🧤
World Cup 2026 · Professional Goalkeeper Equipment
Goalkeeper Gloves — Trusted at the Highest Level
Nine goalkeepers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup wear Elite Sport gloves. ES athlete Michael Woud is part of New Zealand's World Cup squad. Discover the full professional range now.
FW · New Zealand · 2 assists · 1st All White to do so
8.2
MM
Mohammad Mohebbi
MF · Iran · Goal 64' · Header off far post
7.2
AB
Alireza Beiranvand
GK · Iran · 6 saves · 82nd cap
7.1
MT
Mehdi Taremi
FW · Iran · Post 22' · Constant threat
6.8
As Featured This Season
Shop the Pro Range
Revolution X White
Revolution X Black
B1 Bono Gloves
Group G Standings
Group G Standings — After Matchday 1 · All Even
#
Team
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1
🇧🇪 Belgium
1
0
1
0
0
1
2
🇪🇬 Egypt
1
0
1
0
0
1
3
🇮🇷 Iran
1
0
1
0
0
1
4
🇳🇿 New Zealand
1
0
1
0
0
1
New Zealand were ahead twice and neither lead lasted more than twenty minutes. Iran came back twice from behind against the lowest-ranked team in the tournament. That is not a tribute to New Zealand's inability to hold a lead. That is a tribute to Iran's character.
ES Editorial Analysis · Group G · FIFA World Cup 2026 · Los Angeles · June 15
What This Means Going Forward
🇮🇷
Iran vs Belgium — ES Courtois 🧤
Iran face Belgium on June 21 — where ES athlete Thibaut Courtois will be in goal for the Red Devils. After this performance, Iran are no pushover. Rezaeian's quality going forward, Taremi's threat, and Beiranvand's solidity behind them make for a competitive Matchday 2 encounter.
📅 Iran vs Belgium · June 21 · 7:00 PM ET · 4:30 AM IST Jun 22
🇳🇿
New Zealand — Egypt Next, History Awaits
New Zealand face Egypt in Vancouver on June 21 — their greatest ever chance of a World Cup win with Wood and Just in this form. Elijah Just in the form of his life. Chris Wood providing assists with a level of calm mastery he has never shown on a World Cup stage before. New Zealand have never won a World Cup match. This could change.
📅 New Zealand vs Egypt · June 21 · 9:00 PM ET · 6:30 AM IST Jun 22
Conclusion
Iran 2-2 New Zealand. A result that tells the story of two teams who absolutely refused to accept the alternative. New Zealand — lowest-ranked team in the tournament — scored two goals of genuine quality through Elijah Just, making history in the process. Iran — supposedly the dominant side — hit the post, had a goal ruled offside, and still found ways to equalize twice through Rezaeian's genius and Mohebbi's power.
Group G goes into Matchday 2 with all four teams level. Belgium face Iran. New Zealand face Egypt. The group that contains ES athlete Thibaut Courtois — who drew 1-1 with Egypt in Seattle earlier on the same day — is perfectly poised. In Los Angeles, where the world had expected Iran to control and New Zealand to merely compete, two equal teams produced one of the most entertaining matches of the entire 2026 World Cup opening round.
Follow Elite Sport throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup for complete coverage of all nine ES athletes — including Thibaut Courtois for Belgium vs Iran on June 21 — only at elitesportkeepers.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Iran and New Zealand drew 2-2 in Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles on June 15. Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand (7th and 54th minutes) and Iran equalised through Ramin Rezaeian (32nd minute) and Mohammad Mohebbi (64th minute).
Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand — a 7th-minute volley after Chris Wood held the ball up and found him, and a 54th-minute finish after a one-two with Wood. Just became the first New Zealand player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup match. Chris Wood provided both assists, becoming the first All White to record multiple assists in a single World Cup game.
Iran equalised twice. Ramin Rezaeian scored in the 32nd minute with an outside-of-the-boot trivela finish after a first-time pass from Saman Ghoddos. Mohammad Mohebbi scored in the 64th minute with a powerful header into the far corner from Rezaeian's pinpoint cross from the right. Rezaeian became the first Iranian to score and assist in the same World Cup game.
Elijah Just became the first New Zealand player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup match. Chris Wood became the first All White to provide multiple assists in a single World Cup game — only the third player in the last three World Cups to provide two assists to the same teammate in one match, after Ivan Perisic and Joao Felix in 2022. Ramin Rezaeian became the first Iranian player to score and assist in the same World Cup game.
Iran face Belgium on June 21 at 7:00 PM ET / 4:30 AM IST June 22 — where ES athlete Thibaut Courtois will be in goal for the Red Devils. New Zealand face Egypt on June 21 at 9:00 PM ET / 6:30 AM IST June 22 in Vancouver — a match where the All Whites will fancy their chances of their first ever World Cup win.
Iran vs New Zealand Fifa World Cup 2026 Match Report & Highlights
