World Cup Group Stage - 1
Iran 2 - 2 FT New Zealand
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
E. Just (C. Wood) 7'
32' R. Rezaeian
HT
46' ↓ A. Yousefi ↑M. Ghaedi
53' ↓ S. Moghanlou ↑A. Alipour
E. Just (C. Wood) 54'
64' M. Mohebi (R. Rezaeian)
65' ↓ S. Ghoddos ↑E. Hajsafi
↓ L. Cacace ↑B. Old 68'
↓ C. McCowatt ↑R. Thomas 68'
↓ T. Payne ↑C. Elliot 78'
80' ↓ M. Taremi ↑A. Hosseinzadeh
89' E. Hajsafi
↓ S. Singh ↑J. Randall 90'+2
↓ M. Stamenic ↑T. Bindon 90'+2
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Iran
Goalkeepers
Alireza Beiranvand 
OCTOPUS
6
Saves
6
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Ramin Rezaeian 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Shoja Khalilzadeh 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ali Nemati
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Milad Mohammadi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Mohammad Mohebi
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Saman Ghoddos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
Saeid Ezatolahi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aria Yousefi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
46
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
Shahriar Moghanlou
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
53
Total Mins
53
Entry
Mehdi Taremi 
MAGNET
48
Activity
48
Activity
37
Passes
11
Duels
BENCH
Payam Niazmand 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Hossein Hosseini
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Saleh Hardani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hossein Kanaani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ehsan Hajsafi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Roozbeh Cheshmi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Amirmohammad Razzaghinia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohammad Ghorbani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mahdi Torabi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mehdi Ghayedi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ali Alipour
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
37
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alireza Jahanbakhsh
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dennis Eckert Ayensa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
New Zealand
Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe 
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
29%
Pass Acc
Defenders
Tim Payne
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
Finn Surman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Michael Boxall
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Liberato Cacace
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
68
Total Mins
68
Entry
Midfielders
Joe Bell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marko Stamenić 
NPC
92
Minutes
92
Minutes
50%
Pass Acc
6.3
Rating
Callum McCowatt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
68
Total Mins
68
Entry
Sarpreet Singh
NPC
92
Minutes
92
Minutes
33%
Pass Acc
6.3
Rating
Elijah Just 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
9.0
Rating
Forwards
Chris Wood
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
2
Assists
14%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Alex Paulsen
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Michael Woud
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Tommy Smith
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Francis De Vries
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nando Pijnaker
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Callan Elliot
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tyler Bindon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryan Thomas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lachlan Bayliss
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Rufer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jesse Randall
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Benjamin Old
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ben Waine
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kosta Barbarouses
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
A Thriller at SoFi Ends Level
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 86/100. This chaotic Group Stage opener delivered spectacular entertainment as both nations traded heavy blows without finding a definitive knockout.
Early Fireworks in California
The vast expanses of SoFi Stadium witnessed immediate action as New Zealand came out swinging. It took a mere seven minutes for the opening breakthrough to materialise, setting an electric tempo for the evening. E. Just found himself in the perfect position to convert a smart delivery from C. Wood, stunning the opposition defence before they had time to settle. The sheer Intensity of these early exchanges forced a rapid adjustment from the trailing side. The Kiwis edged possession with a neat 52 percent share, dictating the rhythm through the middle of the park. Instead of sitting back on their early advantage, they continued to press high up the pitch, looking to suffocate any immediate response and establish total control over this crucial first fixture.
The Constant Trading of Blows
You cannot keep a determined side down for long on this international stage. The Balance of power shifted dramatically as Iran found their footing and began to launch waves of counter-attacks. R. Rezaeian provided the crucial equaliser in the 32nd minute, capping off a resilient spell of pressure. However, the parity was short-lived as the second half brought renewed attacking vigour. Wood and Just combined brilliantly once again in the 54th minute, carving through the backline to restore the Kiwi lead. A staggering combined total of 31 shots turned the pitch into an absolute shooting gallery. Neither defensive unit could catch a breath, as the midfield transitions became non-existent and the match evolved into an end-to-end spectacle of raw attacking intent.
A Resolute Finish to an Epic
Just when the momentum seemed to have swung permanently, the script flipped once more. M. Mohebi rose to the occasion in the 64th minute, firing home a vital leveller after a precise setup from Rezaeian. The relentless attacking output meant both goalkeepers had to earn their keep, producing eight critical saves between them to prevent further damage. The high Stakes of this opening group fixture became increasingly apparent in the dying minutes, as tired legs desperately protected the draw. Sharing the spoils leaves both nations sitting on a single point, keeping the group dynamics perfectly poised. Our verdict is that this four-goal spectacle will be remembered as one of the most thoroughly entertaining stalemates of the early tournament phases.
Key Questions
What made E. Just the Man of the Match?
He netted a clinical brace, consistently terrorising the defence and linking up perfectly with C. Wood to drive the attacking lines forward.
What does this mean for Iran's season?
A hard-fought point keeps them tied at the top of the group, leaving everything to play for in the vital next round of fixtures.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Grit Over Glamour as Iran Faces New Zealand
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 27/100. This opening group stage clash lacks immediate star power, but it delivers a brutal, early test for two nations desperate to survive and advance.
The Setup
Opening matches often set the tone, and June 16, 2026, will be no different when Iran clash with New Zealand at SoFi Stadium. This World Cup group stage tie presents a fascinating, albeit defensively minded, prospect for the neutral fan. The tournament opener carries a modest Stakes rating, reflecting the safety net of having two more upcoming fixtures, but a knockout mentality must be adopted immediately by both squads if they want to progress. Neither side boasts global household names, leading to an incredibly low Stars rating. We expect a physical, exhausting 90 minutes rather than an exhibition of free-flowing, attacking football. With a dire Form rating dragging both squads down in the build-up, attacking confidence is undeniably fragile. However, a slight Balance advantage leans toward the Middle Eastern outfit, suggesting they might ultimately dictate the tempo and command possession against their Oceanic rivals.
Key Battle
Forget individual duels; this match will be decided by collective tactical discipline. Iran’s attacking unit must find a way to dismantle New Zealand’s stubborn, deep-lying defensive block. The Oceanic side will undoubtedly sit back, absorb pressure, and look to frustrate at every turn. If the Iranian midfield cannot increase the tempo and stretch the play horizontally across the pitch, they will crash against a resolute wall of white shirts all afternoon, leading to a frustrating stalemate.
Our Prediction
Our take heavily favors a narrow, grinding victory for the designated home side. Iran holds the tactical edge and the lion's share of the win probability, while New Zealand looks primed to struggle during attacking transitions. When two teams step onto the pitch fully aware of their offensive limitations, risk aversion takes over completely. Expect a cagey, foul-heavy first half followed by a decisive, late set-piece. A 1-0 win for Iran fits perfectly into a game script defined by attrition and defensive rigidity.