Iran faced New Zealand in their 2026 World Cup opener, managing to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. This match was particularly poignant as it marked Iran’s participation under challenging circumstances, having navigated significant obstacles to compete in the finals.

The match saw Iran come back twice, with goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi, while Eli Just netted both goals for the All Whites.

Key highlights include:

• Iran had to change their training venue from the US to Mexico due to visa issues.
• The team faced the threat of being unable to participate due to geopolitical tensions following a bombing campaign by the United States and Israel.
• Despite FIFA's attempts to ban them, fans displayed ‘Lion and Sun’ flags, symbolizing pre-revolution Iran.

The match began with Iran showing promise, but they fell behind early when Chris Wood assisted Just, who scored in the 7th minute. Iran equalized in the 32nd minute when Rezaeian pounced on a loose ball after a defensive mishap by Finn Surman.

Just scored again for New Zealand shortly after halftime, but Mohebbi responded with a header from a Rezaeian cross, leveling the match once more. Both teams had opportunities to clinch a win, but the match concluded in a draw, reflecting the resilience of Iran amidst adversity.