The Short Version
As of 15 June, Iran and New Zealand drew 2-2 in their Group G match at Los Angeles Stadium. Elijah Just twice put New Zealand ahead, both times set up by Chris Wood, but Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi hauled Iran level on each occasion. Rezaeian scored once and assisted the other. All four Group G teams now sit on a single point.
New Zealand strike first, against the run of play
Iran began at a blistering pace, Arya Yousefi forcing an early save and the All Whites pinned back. Against that grain, New Zealand led inside seven minutes. Chris Wood, the Nottingham Forest striker, brought down a long ball from his goalkeeper and combined with Elijah Just, the Motherwell forward steering a volley past Alireza Beiranvand, as Sky Sports’ report recounted. It was a goal that carried a small slice of history: Just became the first Motherwell player ever to score at a men’s World Cup.
Iran, who arrived after a disrupted build-up that forced them to relocate training and kept some non-playing staff from entering the United States, did not let their heads drop. In the 32nd minute Ramin Rezaeian arrived in the box to smash home a rebound and level the match.
Just again, and Iran answer again
Ten minutes into the second half, New Zealand restored their lead, and again the move ran through Wood to Just, who finished off a flowing team move for his second of the night and the lowest-ranked team at the tournament dared to dream of a first-ever World Cup win. It did not last. In the 64th minute Rezaeian swung in a cross from the right and Mohammad Mohebbi rose to head Iran level for a second time, as Al Jazeera’s coverage tracked.
A point each, and a tight group
The closing stages had chances at both ends. Ryan Thomas made a vital last-minute clearance to deny Iran a winner, and Wood headed wide late on when New Zealand might have snatched all three points. It finished 2-2, as FIFA’s match centre confirms.
Rezaeian’s contribution stood out beyond the scoreline: the right-back became the first Iran player to record a goal and an assist in a single World Cup match. Amir Ghalenoei’s side will be the happier of the two to come from behind twice, while New Zealand, twice in front and twice pegged back, will wonder how they failed to convert the best chance their history has offered. With Belgium and Egypt also drawing earlier, all four Group G teams have opened with a point, and the group is wide open heading into Matchday 2.
Frequently asked questions
How did Iran vs New Zealand end? The match finished 2-2 at Los Angeles Stadium on 15 June, in their Group G match.
Who scored the goals? Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand; Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi replied for Iran.
Who set up the goals? Chris Wood provided both of Just’s goals for New Zealand; Rezaeian scored Iran’s first and assisted Mohebbi’s header for the second.
Why was Rezaeian’s performance notable? He became the first Iran player to record both a goal and an assist in a single World Cup match.
What was historic about Elijah Just’s goals? Just became the first Motherwell player to score at a men’s World Cup, and scored a brace.
Did either side nearly win it late? Yes. Ryan Thomas cleared off the line to deny Iran, and Chris Wood headed wide for New Zealand in the closing stages.
How does Group G look after the opening games? All four teams — Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand — have one point each after drawing their opening matches.
Who coaches Iran and New Zealand? Iran are managed by Amir Ghalenoei; New Zealand were the lowest-ranked team at the tournament entering the match.
About the author: James O’Connor is investigative football correspondent at Touchline Global, the London-based independent football journalism outlet founded in 2012 and specializing in FIFA governance, commercial reporting, and football’s political economy. O’Connor has covered every FIFA World Cup since Brazil 2014. Contact: james.oconnor@touchline.global · LinkedIn: /in/james-oconnor-touchline · X: @JamesOConnorTG
