Updated: 2026-06-19 | Live data subject to official announcements
Iran played out a thrilling draw in its opening group-stage match at the 2026 World Cup, drawing 2:2 with New Zealand. This Group G clash took place on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, drawing a crowd of 70,108, and it was Iran’s opening match of the tournament.
The match was a real back-and-forth. New Zealand’s Elijah Just, a forward playing for a Scottish club, scored a brace, finding the net in the 7th minute and the 54th minute to give New Zealand the lead twice. Iran equalized through Ramin Rezaeian in the 32nd minute, and in the second half Mohammad Mohebbi headed home in the 64th minute, with the match finishing 2:2. Each side took one point, and Group G’s outlook has been wide open from the very first round.
Iran shares Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand this tournament. As for the upcoming schedule, Iran will face Belgium on June 21, also at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and then take on Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. The subsequent kickoff times and venue arrangements remain subject to FIFA’s official schedule.
By the way, readers often group Iran together with host Canada—but the two teams are not in the same group. As the host nation, Canada is in Group B, so Iran’s results will not directly affect Canada’s group standings; you can rest easy on that point. To follow Canada’s own progress, you can refer to our roundup of the latest on Team Canada.
If you want to watch Iran or other teams play in Canada, Vancouver and Toronto are the two liveliest hubs. Iran also has a sizable diaspora community in Canada, and quite a few bars fill up with fans at kickoff. For each city’s bars, public viewing spaces, and broadcast information, check our “Complete Guide to Where to Watch in Canada,” and remember to confirm the event’s time and location once more before heading out, since public viewing sessions are often adjusted at the last minute.
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