FULL TIME!

Iran and New Zealand battle to a 2-2 draw at Los Angeles Stadium, each earning a point to kick off their tournament.

Iran twice came from behind, showing great fight after being pegged back early in both halves.

New Zealand struck first against the run of play in the seventh minute, with Wood and Just combining to put the All Whites ahead.

Rezaeian responded for Iran a little under a half-hour later, starting and finishing the move to level the score.

Iran thought they had a late go-ahead goal, but it was ruled out for a clear offside, leaving it 1-1 at the break.

The second half mirrored the first, with New Zealand scoring eight minutes after the restart, Just grabbing his second from another Wood assist.

But Iran fought back again, with Rezaeian delivering a perfectly whipped cross for Mohebbi to head home less than 15 minutes later.

Both teams pushed for a winner, but it wasn't to be.

Iran will face Belgium next at the same venue, while New Zealand heads to Vancouver to take on Egypt.

That concludes our coverage of this 2026 World Cup Group G opener!

Full-Time

FULL-TIME!

Iran and New Zealand finish 2-2 in a thrilling FIFA World Cup match at Los Angeles Stadium.

Ghayedi's late inswinging corner finds Ezatolahi at the far post, who nods it across the face of goal to keep it in play.

But Thomas throws himself in the way to intercept!

SUB: Bazeley makes his fifth and final change, with Bindon replacing Stemnic.

SUB: New Zealand make a change in attack, with Randall replacing Singh in the 90'+2' minute.

The fourth official signals five minutes of stoppage time will be added to the end of the match.

YELLOW CARD!

Hajisafi sticks out a leg to bring Just down robustly on the halfway line, preventing a counter-attack.

The Iran substitute gives the referee a knowing smile before receiving his yellow card, which is met without protest.

Ezatolahi receives a pass from Rezaeian in midfield, feints intelligently to create space from Thomas, and then curls a long-range strike that the New Zealand goalkeeper catches cleanly.

Ezatolahi gets a shot off from 25 yards after a scramble in the box, but his first-time effort sails over Crocombe's goal.

Taremi was a force in 2026 World Cup qualifiers, directly involved in 49% of Iran's goals.

He scored 10 and assisted seven of their 35 goals, playing more minutes (1,331) than any other Team Melli player.

Iran is fuming after Wood's challenge on Khalilzadeh in midfield, believing the shoulder to the center-back's face was deliberate.

To be fair, the Nottingham Forest striker didn't seem to know much about the contact, and VAR has cleared him of any wrongdoing.