Iran 2-2 New Zealand - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Iran Fight Back Twice to Earn Thrilling Point Against New Zealand

One of the most unassuming games of the World Cup group stage wound up being one of the very best games so far.

Elijah Just and Chris Wood were in rude form for New Zealand, linking up with the former scoring twice from the latter's two assists, but were countered by a delightful display from Iran defender Ramin Rezaeian, who netted an equaliser and assisted another as Iran fought back twice from losing positions.

The result means that everyone in Group G is level on points after Belgium and Egypt drew earlier in the night.

Iran 2-2 New Zealand As It Happened

The game could not have got off to a better start for the Kiwi's, who found the net just a few minutes into the match with only their first effort.

A long ball forward from goalkeeper Max Crocombe was brought down beautifully by Nottingham Forest hero Chris Wood. Some quick, high-tempo play around the box eventually led to the big striker keeping a chance alive for Motherwell winger Elijah Just, who struck with venom from close range to bag an early lead.

Iran would dust off the setback and look to fight their way back into contention, and they almost had their captain and talisman Mehdi Taremi to thank on his 106th cap for Iran.

The Middle Eastern nation were looking dangerous on the counter, and lit their way through New Zealand's midfield on the way to Taremi just inside his own half. The Olympiakos striker strode forward into space as New Zealand sat off, with passing options available on either flank. He opted to go alone, and sent a thunderous effort cannoning back off of Crocombe's left-hand post just before the first water break.

The game really started to open up from that point onwards. Moments after a moment of madness from Crocombe, one in which the Milwall stopper was very lucky not to concede a penalty, New Zealand launched an attack of their own which led to a sharp save from Alireza Beiranvand to deny Liberato Cacace. Iran came forward again through former Brentford man Saman Ghoddos who had an audacious attempt on the volley from range, but he could not hit the target.

But a moment of good fortune for the Iranian team would allow them to restore the parity that their play deserved. Play broke well for Ghoddos once again, amidst a brilliant first half, and his attempt at goal in the area was charged down well by Finn Surman. Sadly for the Kiwi defender, the challenged ball flicked up brilliantly for on-rushing right-back Ramin Rezaeian, who flicked the loose ball beyond Crocombe and survived an offside scare to level the issue.

Iran would be wheeling away in celebration with a little over a minute remaining of the half in a hotly-contested fixture so far, but the cruel rising of the linesman's flag would cut that short. A perfect free-kick delivery from Rezaeian met the head of the impressive Ali Nemati in the area before he powered home a fine header, but the defender was well offside from the delivery.

Halftime Score - Iran 1-1 New Zealand

Just nine minutes into the second half, that same electric combination of Just and Wood would pay dividends again as New Zealand reclaimed their lost lead.

A turnover on the right wing from Iran allowed Cacace to stride forward before bringing it central for Marko Stamenic. Play eventually came forward to Wood, who fed several one-two passes between himself and Just before releasing the latter onto the right of the box. As with his first of the night, the Motherwell star made no mistake with his strike, blasting confidently past Beiranvand to get them back ahead.

But leave no doubt about it - this game had more twists to come yet, and Iran were level once again from almost nowhere.

A long switch of play found Rezaeian in acres of room on the right-most flank, and the defender sent a gorgeous, whipped cross into the box for Mohammad Mohebbi to attack. He made no mistake with his header, glancing an inch-perfect header off of the post and into the net for their second equaliser of the game.

Both teams kept soldiering on in search of a goal that would surely become the winner, and Saeid Ezatolahi came close to grabbing it in spectacular fashion with a long range drive that swerved through the air, but swung back kindly to Crocombe to claim with minutes left on the clock.

Chris Wood reserved more energy for the late stages, sending a good headed chance too close to Beiranvand between the posts before almost catching the Iranian stopper in possession with less than two minutes remaining.

New Zealand would immediately have to defend from an Iran corner, with a flick back across goal being defender amazingly when it counted by substitute Ryan Thomas, who got there in the knick of time to deny Mohebbi from grabbing a second from close range.

This surprisingly thrilling encounter would throw forward no further surprises, however, and both teams settled for a breathless, well-fought point apiece. What a match!

Full-time Score - Iran 2-2 New Zealand

Iran Player Ratings

• Alireza Beiranvand (6)

• Ramin Rezaeian (7)

• Ali Nemati (7)

• Shoja Khalilzadeh (6)

• Milad Mohammadi (7)

• Saeid Ezatolahi (7)

• Saman Ghoddos (8)

• Aria Yousefi (6)

• Mohammad Mohebi (6)

• Shahriar Moghanlou (6)

• Mehdi Taremi (7)

• Mehdi Ghayedi (6)

• Ali Alipour (6)

• Ehsan Hajisafi (6)

• Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (6)

New Zealand Player Ratings

• Max Crocombe (5)

• Tim Payne (5)

• Finn Surman (5)

• Michael Boxall (6)

• Liberato Cacace (6)

• Joe Bell (6)

• Marko Stamenic (7)

• Sarpreet Singh (7)

• Elijah Just (9)

• Callum McCowatt (6)

• Chris Wood (9)

• Ryan Thomas (7)

• Benjamin Old (6)

• Callan Elliot (6)

• Tyler Bindon (N/A)

• Jesse Randall (N/A)

Man of the Match - Elijah Just

JUST IS IN FOR OUR FIRST GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP pic.twitter.com/P44yGSmCIa

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) June 16, 2026

The Motherwell winger was in rude form for this clash, netting the third brace for a player at this World Cup to follow the likes of Folarin Balogun and Kai Havertz.

His link-up play with Chris Wood, who also deserves a shout here, was the catalyst to all enjoyed by New Zealand in this affair. His striking was deadly, his ball control euphoric, and he deserves his flowers and 'Just' desserts after a glittering display.

Shoutout Ramin Rezaeian for Iran as well - a goal and an assist were on his CV tonight in a brilliant display for his nation. That warrants a commendable flagging, but Just is our pick tonight.

Bad Day at the Office - Nobody

Yeah, yeah. Boring old Football Park.

The truth is, nobody deserves the tagline of having played 'badly'. Everyone in either the white of Iran or all-black of New Zealand played their heart out in this unassuming clash of the underdogs down in Group G.

Crocombe could have had a more confident display in goal and Iranian starboy Aria Yousefi had little impact overall, but truly nobody has earned this moniker tonight.