Updated: 2026-06-17 | Live data is subject to official announcements.
Iran and New Zealand faced off in their opening Group G match of the 2026 World Cup, finishing 2-2. The game was played on the evening of June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, just outside Los Angeles, and was the 15th fixture of this tournament. Let us clear up one thing that is often misreported: this was not any kind of qualifying play-off—both teams had already booked their spots in the finals through their respective regional qualifiers, and this was a bona fide group-stage match.
The match caught Iran off guard right from the start. In the 7th minute, Elijah Just opened the scoring for New Zealand; this wing player, known for his pace and bursts of acceleration, was a thorn in Iran’s defence all night. Iran equalised in the 32nd minute through the experienced right-back Ramin Rezaeian, restoring parity.
The second half was quicker still. In the 54th minute, Just struck again to complete his brace and put New Zealand back in front; but Iran did not panic, and in the 64th minute Mohammad Mohebbi seized his chance to level once more. Both sides had openings to break the deadlock after that, but in the end-to-end exchanges neither could find another goal, and the 2-2 scoreline held to the final whistle. The Iranian fans inside SoFi Stadium were in tremendous voice, turning what was a match staged in the United States almost into a home atmosphere.
The result leaves Group G even more tightly poised. The four teams in this group are Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand; Iran and New Zealand each have 1 point and are level on equal footing, and who will advance to the round of 16 remains anyone’s guess, with the upcoming matches against Belgium and Egypt set to be decisive. Below are the key data from this match and a snapshot of the current Group G standings:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | 2026 World Cup Group G, fixture 15 |
| Date / Venue | 2026-06-15, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Los Angeles metro area) |
| Score | Iran 2-2 New Zealand |
| Iran goals | Rezaeian 32′, Mohebbi 64′ |
| New Zealand goals | Just 7′, 54′ |
| Group G members | Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand |
| Points after the match | Iran and New Zealand 1 point each (goal difference 0) |
For Canadian fans, this match was more of an enjoyable neutral watch. Canada have been drawn into Group B this tournament and are not in Group G, so the Iran-New Zealand result does not directly affect Canada’s group fate. That said, that is exactly what the World Cup is like—as one of the host nations, over these weeks your colleagues and neighbours may well be passionately discussing some team with no obvious connection to you, and an Oceania side like New Zealand, which rarely makes it to the finals, is a talking point in itself. My own biggest takeaway watching this one: New Zealand’s pace really should not be underestimated—both of Just’s goals came from pouncing on a split-second lapse in Iran’s back line.
Friends who want to watch the rest of the Group G matches or other games of this tournament in Canada can refer to our guide to where to watch in Canada, which has information on sports bars and public viewing spots across the country; and if you are in a host city, the city guides for Vancouver and Toronto also have local tips on transport and gathering spots. For the latest scores and schedule, always defer to the information published by the FIFA official match centre.
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