INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In a captivating start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G campaign, Iran and New Zealand played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at SoFi Stadium. Despite being the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, New Zealand delivered a historic performance, twice taking the lead before Iran’s resilience forced a share of the spoils.

Just's Historic Night

The match belonged to New Zealand winger Elijah Just, who etched his name into football history as the first New Zealander to score two goals in a single World Cup match. Just opened the scoring in the 7th minute after an expertly crafted buildup involving captain Chris Wood.

Though Iran’s Mehdi Taremi came close to equalizing when his strike hit the post, the "Team Melli" found their way back into the game in the 32nd minute through Ramin Rezaeian, who pounced on a loose ball in the box.

Just regained the lead for the "All Whites" in the 54th minute, again linking up with Wood to fire past goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. However, Iran’s pressure proved relentless. Ten minutes later, Mohammad Mohebi met a precise cross from Rezaeian, heading home the equalizer to level the score at 2-2.

A Tough Result for Both Sides

For New Zealand, the result was a bittersweet milestone. While they secured a gritty point, they remain in search of their first-ever victory in the FIFA World Cup after seven attempts (4 draws, 3 losses). Despite the disappointment of surrendering the lead twice, head coach Darren Bazeley praised his squad’s bravery, noting it was perhaps their best performance on the global stage.

For Iran, the draw extends their quest to advance past the group stage for the first time in their seven World Cup appearances. While they showed the fighting spirit to come from behind on two occasions, manager Amir Ghalenoei will look to improve their defensive composure as they prepare for a challenging next fixture against Belgium.

Group G Outlook

The draw leaves the group wide open, as all four teams New Zealand, Iran, Belgium, and Egypt are currently level on one point following the opening round of matches. New Zealand will face Egypt next, while Iran faces a stern test against Belgium.