Iran came from behind twice to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against New Zealand in an entertaining Group G clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles.
The result leaves Group G finely balanced after the opening round of matches, with all four teams sitting on one point following Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egypt earlier in the day.
New Zealand looked set to claim a historic first FIFA World Cup victory on two occasions, but Iran’s resilience and attacking quality ensured the points were shared in a match filled with chances, momentum swings and standout individual performances.
The All Whites made the perfect start and stunned their Asian opponents inside the opening stages.
Chris Wood played a key role in the move, using his strength to hold up the ball before laying it into the path of Elijah Just. The Motherwell forward reacted instantly, thumping a superb half volley beyond Alireza Beiranvand to give New Zealand an early lead.
The goal rewarded a confident start from New Zealand, who looked comfortable and dangerous whenever they broke forward.
Iran responded positively and gradually began to impose themselves on the contest.
Their biggest threat came through Mehdi Taremi, who caused problems throughout the first half with his movement and intelligent link-up play. The striker almost dragged his side level when he unleashed a powerful effort from outside the box that crashed against the post.
The turning point arrived after the first hydration break midway through the opening half.
New Zealand had controlled much of the early momentum, but Iran returned from the stoppage with renewed intensity and quickly found a way back into the game.
Ramin Rezaeian produced the equaliser, showing excellent composure to flick the ball beyond Max Crocombe and restore parity.
Iran continued to push forward after scoring and even thought they had completed the turnaround before half-time. However, their celebrations were cut short when a second goal was ruled out for offside.
The match remained finely poised heading into the break, with both sides showing enough attacking intent to suggest more goals would follow.
The second half started at a slower pace, but New Zealand soon rediscovered their rhythm.
Once again, the partnership between Chris Wood and Elijah Just proved decisive.
Wood created the opportunity with another intelligent contribution, and Just finished brilliantly. Spotting Beiranvand off his line, the forward lofted the ball over the goalkeeper to restore New Zealand’s advantage and send the travelling supporters into celebration.
Just’s second goal capped an outstanding individual display and further highlighted his growing reputation after an impressive season with Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, where he scored seven goals and provided eight assists.
Iran, however, refused to surrender.
As they had done in the first half, they responded positively after conceding. Their pressure eventually paid off when Rezaeian delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area and Mohammad Mohebbi met it with a well-placed header that bounced in off the inside of the post.
The equaliser ensured Iran remained unbeaten and set up a tense final period as both teams searched for a winning goal.
Chances came at both ends, but neither side could find the breakthrough.
The statistics reflected just how evenly contested the match was. Iran finished with 17 shots while New Zealand registered 14, underlining the attacking ambition shown by both nations throughout the encounter.
For Iran, the result marked a positive start under difficult circumstances.
The build-up to their FIFA World Cup campaign had been dominated by off-field issues. Questions surrounding travel arrangements, training locations and broader political developments created uncertainty before the tournament began.
Yet once the action started, Iran focused entirely on football.
They played with confidence, moved the ball well in attacking areas and regularly threatened through Taremi and their supporting cast. Their ability to recover from losing positions twice also demonstrated valuable character.
New Zealand will take plenty of encouragement despite missing out on victory.
The All Whites looked dangerous throughout and produced one of their strongest attacking displays on the FIFA World Cup stage.
Elijah Just was undoubtedly the standout performer. His two goals made history as he became the first player ever to score more than once for New Zealand in a FIFA World Cup match.
He also became the first Motherwell player to score at the men’s FIFA World Cup.
Chris Wood matched that achievement in his own way. The experienced striker provided two assists and became the first New Zealand player to register multiple assists in a FIFA World Cup match.
After the game, Just admitted the occasion exceeded even his own expectations.
“One goal was nice, two was not something I could ever have dreamed of,” he said.
“This team is really special but we know how tough our other opponents are.
“We have a lot of work to do.”
Iran also celebrated a historic individual achievement through Rezaeian.
With one goal and one assist, he became the first player in Iran’s history to score and assist in the same FIFA World Cup match.
Despite the disappointment of letting two leads slip, New Zealand earned another valuable point. However, their search for a first-ever FIFA World Cup victory continues.
The All Whites have now played seven FIFA World Cup matches without winning. Among nations to have appeared at the tournament, only Honduras with nine and Egypt with eight have endured longer winless runs.
For both teams, the performance offered reasons for optimism. Iran showcased their attacking threat and resilience, while New Zealand demonstrated they can compete with established international opponents.
With all four teams in Group G level on one point, the race for qualification remains wide open heading into the next round of fixtures.
