Iran ties New Zealand (2-2) in World Cup debut!
Iran must leave the US immediately after each game.
Inglewood, US, June 15 (EFE).- By Mikaela Viqueira
Iran and New Zealand drew 2-2 on Monday in California in a tight match highlighted by a brace by Elijah Just, with a true display of strength on the pitch despite the severe restrictions imposed by Washington.
Just put New Zealand ahead in the 7th minute after an assist from Chris Wood, marking a historic milestone for his country, which until then had only scored four goals in its World Cup history.
Ramin Rezaeian equalized in the 32nd minute and leveled the score before halftime, but Iran showed their determination by having a goal disallowed in the final moments of the first half.
After the break, the same pattern repeated itself: Just scored his second goal in the 55th minute, but Mohammad Mohebi leveled the score again in the 64th.
The match was very evenly contested in terms of possession and scoring opportunities, with Iran starting strong, but New Zealand held them back in front of a packed stadium at Los Angeles Stadium.
The All Whites grew in confidence after scoring the first goal, which gave them the lead against an opponent that persisted with effective tactics.
Each save by the Iranian goalkeeper drew cheers of support from a divided crowd, between those who opposed the Persian team’s participation in the World Cup and those who came to support them despite everything.
The match unfolded in a peaceful atmosphere, where fans of the Oceanian team and Iranians, both for and against the Tehran regime, mingled. There were no reports of altercations or incidents in the stands.
The Iranian national team sought to showcase its strength in its 2026 World Cup debut, responding to restrictions imposed by Washington, which denied visas to much of the coaching staff and forced them to train in Tijuana, Mexico.
The team is only permitted by Washington to spend one night in the US before its matches, where they are also provided with a training camp. Immediately after each game, the delegation must leave US soil. EFE mvg/tw
