Sports Desk: Iran launched their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against New Zealand in an entertaining Group G encounter at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Iran twice came from behind to salvage a point after New Zealand striker Elijah Just scored a brace for the All Whites. Just opened the scoring in the seventh minute following an assist from captain Chris Wood, before Iran responded through Ramin Rezaeian in the 32nd minute. The New Zealand forward restored his side’s lead early in the second half, only for Mohammad Mohebi to head home the equaliser in the 64th minute to ensure the points were shared. The draw leaves all four teams in Group G level on one point after Belgium and Egypt also played out a 1-1 stalemate in their opening fixture.
Iran’s result further highlighted the encouraging performances of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) teams at the tournament. Australia had earlier secured a 2-0 victory over Türkiye, while Saudi Arabia earned a commendable 1-1 draw against Uruguay. Qatar also collected their first-ever World Cup point after holding Switzerland to a 1-1 draw. Although South Korea suffered a defeat in their opener, the overall showing of AFC representatives has underlined the growing competitiveness of Asian football on the global stage.
For Iran, the draw was particularly significant given the off-field challenges the team has faced in recent months. Amid geopolitical tensions and travel-related issues, Team Melli demonstrated resilience by battling back twice against a spirited New Zealand side. Iran will next take on Belgium, while New Zealand are set to face Egypt in crucial Group G fixtures that could determine the race for the knockout stages. Despite missing out on all three points, Iran’s fighting display ensured that their World Cup journey began on a positive note, while Asian teams collectively continued to make their presence felt at football’s biggest tournament.
