Protest-marked World Cup draw.
Iran and New Zealand draw 2-2 in World Cup opener amid fan protests.
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Iran came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their opening 2026 World Cup match at Los Angeles Stadium on June 15, according to Reuters. New Zealand's Elijah Just scored twice, but Iran equalized both times to leave Group G in a four-way tie at one point each.
The match drew 70,108 fans to SoFi Stadium and played out against a dramatic backdrop: hundreds of Iranian-American protesters waved pre-revolutionary flags outside, and a tentative U.S.-Iran peace deal had been announced just 24 hours before kickoff, Reuters reported.
Elijah Just Scores Twice but Iran Refuses to Fold
Just put New Zealand ahead in the 7th minute with a volley inside the box, assisted by captain Chris Wood, according to Associated Press. Iran leveled in the 32nd minute when Ramin Rezaeian stabbed the ball home in a penalty-area scramble.
Just struck again in the 54th minute, lifting the ball over goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand to make it 2-1, Fox Sports reported. Iran hit back ten minutes later. Rezaeian curled a cross to Mohammad Mohebbi, who glanced a header into the back post. New Zealand's Ryan Thomas then made a last-ditch clearance off the line in the 90th minute to preserve the draw.
Iran Played a World Cup Match on Enemy Soil
Iran became the first nation to play a World Cup game on the soil of a country it was at war with, CBC News reported. The U.S. and Iran had been in open conflict since late February, when the U.S. launched what it called "Operation Epic Fury." A peace deal was announced June 14, but it does not take effect until June 19.
Iran's team trained in Tijuana, Mexico due to visa restrictions and flew into Los Angeles just 24 hours before kickoff, according to Yahoo Sports. FIFA had rejected Iran's request to move its matches to Mexico entirely. About 300 to 500 protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving pre-1979 "Lion and Sun" flags that FIFA banned inside the venue.
Players Speak Out on Politics but Stay Focused on Football
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi acknowledged the weight of the moment. "We don't have the same beautiful experience we always talk about — the peace, the joy," he told Al Jazeera. "This kind of tension, it undermines that joy. It undermines the message of FIFA."
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei kept his message simple. "We are here to represent the respectful people of Iran," he said, adding, "we are not political people." New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley said his team stayed locked in on the game, telling Reuters: "Until we get told otherwise, we'll continue with that preparation."
Group G Stays Deadlocked as All Four Teams Level on Points
Belgium and Egypt also drew 1-1 earlier the same day, Yahoo Sports reported. That means all four teams in Group G sit on one point after Matchday 1. Iran ranks second behind New Zealand on goal difference — two goals scored versus one.
New Zealand matched their entire goal tally from the 2010 World Cup in a single night, according to Associated Press. Iran, ranked 20th in the world by FIFA against New Zealand's 85th, outshot the All Whites 17 to 14 but managed only four shots on target. Next up: Iran faces Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, while New Zealand travels to Vancouver to meet Egypt.
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