Iran began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, a result played out in front of 70,000 fans and set against an unusual political backdrop.
New Zealand took the lead in the seventh minute when captain Chris Wood found Elijah Just, who finished from close range past goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. Wood had done well to play Just in, and the Motherwell forward made no mistake. Iran settled into the match and created their best chance of the first half in the 23rd minute, when Mehdi Taremi’s long-range effort struck the right post. Ramin Rezaeian levelled shortly before the break, following up on a rebound to score from close range in the 32nd minute.
Just restored New Zealand’s lead nine minutes into the second half, again combining with Wood, who had dropped into the build-up before picking out Just to put the ball into the net for the second time. Iran responded through Mohammad Mohebbi, who headed home from a Rezaeian assist in the 64th minute, the ball deflecting in off the post to make it 2-2.
Iran face Belgium in Los Angeles on 21 June, then close out their group stage against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. Egypt drew 1-1 with Belgium on Sunday.
The match came with an offfield dimension. Iran had originally planned to base their camp in Tucson, Arizona, but moved their training headquarters to Tijuana, Mexico, on the US border near Los Angeles at the last minute, citing ongoing political tensions between Tehran and Washington. US authorities declined to issue visas to around 15 members of the Iranian delegation.
Outside the stadium, hundreds of opponents of the Islamic Republic gathered waving the pre-1979 Iranian flag, which features a lion and sun. FIFA had warned fans that bringing that flag inside the venue would result in ejection under rules banning political messaging in stadiums. AFP reporters on the ground observed a large number of fans inside wearing shirts bearing the prohibited flag in open defiance of the guidelines.
The match kicked off one day after Washington and Tehran announced an agreement to end the war in the Middle East.
