New Zealand came close to securing a memorable victory in Los Angeles, but Iran responded on two occasions to claim a share of the spoils in an entertaining Group G encounter.
The All Whites made an ideal start when Elijah Just opened the scoring. Chris Wood showed his strength to hold up possession before laying the ball into the path of the Motherwell attacker, who struck a superb half-volley beyond the goalkeeper.
Buoyed by the early breakthrough, New Zealand continued to threaten and looked comfortable during the opening stages as Iran searched for a route back into the contest.
Iran respond after momentum shift
The flow of the match changed around the midway point of the first half. Following the first hydration break, Iran began to assert themselves and increased the pressure on New Zealand’s defence.
Before finding an equaliser, Mehdi Taremi came within inches of scoring when a fierce effort from outside the area crashed against the post. The striker remained a constant danger as Iran pushed forward with greater purpose.
Their persistence was rewarded when Ramin Rezaeian produced a clever finish to beat Max Crocombe and level the scores. Iran thought they had completed the turnaround before the interval, only for another effort to be ruled out for offside.
Just shines again as Iran answer back
The second half began at a slower pace for New Zealand, but the Oceania side soon rediscovered their attacking threat. Once again, the partnership between Wood and Just proved decisive.
Wood was involved in the build-up as Just collected the ball and delicately lifted his finish over Alireza Beiranvand to restore New Zealand’s advantage. The forward’s second goal capped another impressive contribution in attack.
Iran refused to be beaten and produced another response. Rezaeian turned provider this time, delivering a cross that Mohammad Mohebbi met with a header that struck the inside of the post before finding the net to make it 2-2.
Despite both teams continuing to search for a winner, neither could find the decisive breakthrough, leaving the points shared at the final whistle.
Football takes centre stage amid off-field backdrop
Much of the discussion before Iran’s opening World Cup fixture centred on events away from the pitch. Questions surrounding the nation’s participation had lingered until recently, while political developments remained a major talking point in the build-up.
An agreement to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz was announced on Sunday. Iran’s preparations were also affected, with some members of the delegation unable to obtain visas for the United States and the team instead training in Mexico rather than at their planned base in Arizona.
Once play got underway, however, attention quickly shifted to the action. Iran displayed the qualities that have made them one of Asia’s leading sides, moving the ball effectively in attacking areas and regularly testing the New Zealand defence.
The statistics reflected the competitive nature of the match. Iran registered 17 attempts on goal compared to New Zealand’s 14, illustrating how closely fought the contest was from start to finish.
The group remains wide open
The standout individual performance came from Elijah Just, whose movement and understanding with Wood repeatedly troubled Iran. The forward’s two goals highlighted the form he has shown for Motherwell during the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership campaign, in which he scored seven times and provided eight assists.
His display is likely to attract attention, but the New Zealand attacker was focused on his national team after the match. Reflecting on his achievement, Just admitted that scoring once had been special and that finding the net twice exceeded anything he had imagined.
He also stressed that New Zealand remain aware of the challenge ahead, describing the squad as a special group while acknowledging the quality of the opposition still to come.
The result leaves Group G finely balanced after Belgium and Egypt also drew 1-1, meaning every team in the section has collected one point from their opening match.
