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Iran 2–2 New Zealand
15 Jun · Mon · SoFi Stadium
Our top forecastIran or draw
✓ CORRECT

Match summary

Iran and New Zealand drew 2-2 at SoFi Stadium in their Group G opener. New Zealand led twice through an Elijah Just brace (7' and 54'), but Iran responded each time — Ramin Rezaeian equalising in the 32nd minute and Mohammad Mohebbi heading level on 64. A point apiece from a thrilling, end-to-end contest leaves Group G wide open. Our forecast — Iran or draw — landed: Iran avoided defeat in a game New Zealand will feel they could have won.

Group G standings

#TeamPWDLGDPts
1Egypt2110+24
2Iran202002
3Belgium202002
4New Zealand2011-21
Iran: next match →New Zealand: next match →
What we predicted before the match
🌍 FIFA World Cup · World

Iran – New Zealand Prediction and Betting Tips

Iran national football team logo
Iran
D W W W L
vs
18:00
15 Jun · Mon
New Zealand national football team logo
New Zealand
L L W L W
Kick-off: 18:00 local (15 Jun) · 01:00 UTC Venue: SoFi Stadium Referee: César Ramos (Mexico)
Top forecast + 4 supporting tips
5 picks
Top Pick
1X Iran or draw 60% confidence
2.32odds

Iran's greater quality favours them to avoid defeat; the nations have met only twice before, with Iran unbeaten, against a defensively focused New Zealand.

Back this tip
Total Team 1 Over: 0.5 74%
Iran over 0.5 goals
1.25 odds
Total:Over: 1.5 64%
Over 1.5 goals
1.41 odds
Total Team 2 Under: 1.5 56%
New Zealand under 1.5 goals
1.20 odds
Total:Under: 3.0 60%
Under 3.0 goals
1.43 odds
Iran begin their World Cup against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium as favourites to take an opening three points. Team Melli return with a core of experienced, tournament-tested players and the stronger attacking options, while New Zealand qualified through the Oceania route and tend to rely on defensive organisation and physical presence. Our forecast backs Iran to avoid defeat in a game they should control.

Iran's edge

Iran carry more attacking quality and big-tournament experience than their opponents, and they will expect to dictate possession and territory against a side that typically sits deeper. Their challenge is patience: breaking down a compact, well-drilled block requires composure rather than urgency, and they will look to use the width of the pitch to stretch New Zealand and create openings.

New Zealand's blueprint

New Zealand's most realistic path is discipline, set pieces and physical presence, frustrating a more technical opponent and looking to nick something from a moment of quality or a dead-ball situation. The All Whites are organised and committed, and SoFi's climate-controlled environment removes any weather complication that might otherwise level the contest. Containing Iran for ninety minutes, however, is a demanding task.

Our forecast

We expect Iran to control the game and create the better chances. With the nations having met only twice before, more than two decades ago, there is little recent head-to-head to lean on, but the balance of quality favours the Asian side. Our headline call is Iran or the draw — a double chance that reflects their superiority while guarding against the kind of stubborn, low-event game New Zealand are built to produce.
Iran — recent matches
11 Jun 2026 Grenada 0 — 0 D
04 Jun 2026 Mali 2 — 0 W
29 May 2026 Gambia 3 — 1 W
31 Mar 2026 Costa Rica 5 — 0 W
27 Mar 2026 Nigeria 1 — 2 L
New Zealand — recent matches
06 Jun 2026 England 0 — 1 L
03 Jun 2026 Haiti 0 — 4 L
30 Mar 2026 Chile 4 — 1 W
27 Mar 2026 Finland 0 — 2 L
24 Mar 2025 New Caledonia 3 — 0 W

H2H

These sides have not met at senior level.

Key Players

Iran
Mehdi Taremi ST Inter Milan · 90+ caps · 50 G
Sardar Azmoun ST Shabab Al-Ahli · 80+ caps · 50 G
Alireza Jahanbakhsh RW Heerenveen · 80+ caps
Ehsan Hajsafi LB AEK Athens · 130+ caps · Captain
New Zealand
Chris Wood ST Nottingham Forest · 70+ caps · 35 G · Captain
Marko Stamenić CM Olympiacos · 20+ caps
Ben Old AM St. Étienne · 15+ caps
Tyler Bindon CB Reading · 15+ caps

Injuries

Iran
None reported
New Zealand
None reported

Venue · Context

Stadium: SoFi Stadium
Capacity: 70,000
SoFi's fixed translucent canopy shades the pitch and tempers Los Angeles heat, giving neutral, controlled conditions that favour technical, possession football.
Weather: Mid-June LA: mild, ~22–26°C, dry under the canopy.

Suspensions

Iran
None reported
New Zealand
None reported

Other Group G matches

MD1
Belgium1–1EgyptLANDED
MD2
Belgium0–0IranLANDEDNew Zealand1–3EgyptLANDED
MD3
EgyptvIranJun 27 · 03:00 UTCNew ZealandvBelgiumJun 27 · 03:00 UTC

Team’s other matches

Iran
Belgium0–0IranLANDEDEgyptvIranJun 27 · 03:00 UTC
New Zealand
New Zealand1–3EgyptLANDEDNew ZealandvBelgiumJun 27 · 03:00 UTC

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