Iran and New Zealand Draw 2-2 as E. Just Scores Twice
In a thrilling Group G opener at SoFi Stadium, Iran and New Zealand played out a 2-2 draw. E. Just scored twice for New Zealand, while R. Rezaeian and M. Mohebi found the net for Iran.
On June 18, 2026, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles hosted a thrilling Group G encounter between Iran and New Zealand, ending in a 2-2 draw. Both sides traded blows over 90 minutes, sharing the spoils and keeping the group wide open.
New Zealand struck first in the 7th minute, with C. Wood assisting E. Just to make it 1-0. Iran responded calmly, and in the 32nd minute, R. Rezaeian equalized to send the teams into halftime level at 1-1.
The second half saw New Zealand regain the lead in the 54th minute, again through E. Just from a C. Wood assist. But Iran refused to back down, and in the 64th minute, M. Mohebi scored from R. Rezaeian's pass to make it 2-2, the final score.
Statistically, Iran had 17 total shots (4 on target) compared to New Zealand's 14 (8 on target). Possession favored New Zealand 52% to 48%. Corners went Iran's way 4-1, fouls 10-8. Iran's goalkeeper made 6 saves, New Zealand's 2. Passing accuracy was 85% for New Zealand and 77% for Iran. Expected goals (xG) were 1.50 for Iran and 1.24 for New Zealand.
Man of the match was Iran's defender R. Rezaeian, who scored one goal and assisted another, earning a 9.3 rating. The 35-year-old plays for Foolad FC, has 74 caps for Iran, was born in Sari, Iran, stands 184 cm tall, and has a market value of €250k. His performance was crucial in securing the draw.
After the first round of Group G, all four teams are level on 1 point. Iran and New Zealand top the table due to higher goals scored, while Belgium and Egypt also have 1 point after their 1-1 draw. The group remains wide open.
For Iran, a draw against New Zealand is a solid start. They face group favorites Belgium next. New Zealand will take on Egypt. Both matches are on June 22: Iran vs Belgium at 03:00 Beijing time, and New Zealand vs Egypt at 09:00 Beijing time.
The match showcased the resilience of Asian and African football. Iran fought back twice after falling behind, demonstrating strong character. New Zealand showed efficient attacking play, with E. Just's double a highlight. The second round of matches will be decisive for qualification.
For more details, visit the match page, learn about Iran at Iran team page, New Zealand at New Zealand team page, and the group standings at Group G page.