Iran held to 2-2 draw by resilient New Zealand

New Zealand held Iran to a 2-2 draw in their Group G match of the 2026 World Cup, securing a valuable point despite taking the lead twice .

The Kiwis started the match on the front foot, with Elijah Just opening the scoring in the seventh minute through a well-crafted team move. While Mehdi Taremi's shot came back off the post in the 24th minute, Iran managed to level the score in the 32nd minute through Ramin Rezaeian . The first half ended 1-1.

After the break, Just restored New Zealand's lead in the 54th minute, finishing a precise pass from captain Chris Wood to score his second goal of the match. Just became the first New Zealand footballer to score a brace in a single World Cup match, while Wood made history with two assists .

However, Iran refused to back down. In the 63rd minute, Mohammad Mohebi rose to meet a cross from Rezaeian to head home powerfully, bringing the score back to 2-2. Rezaeian had a hand in both Iranian goals—scoring the first and assisting the second .

Both sides pushed for a winner in the remaining time, but no further goals were scored. The thrilling end-to-end contest ended 2-2, with New Zealand securing a crucial point against a strong Iranian side .