Iran vs – Iran opened its politically charged World Cup with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand on Monday night at SoFi Stadium, rallying after two deficits. Ramin Rezaeian scored early and assisted Mohammad Mohebbi’s 64th-minute equalizer, while captain Mehdi Taremi descri
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The evening started loud, and it stayed that way, even after the match turned into a tug-of-war. Iran’s World Cup opener against New Zealand ended 2-2 on Monday night, the Iranians having to chase two deficits before Mohammad Mohebbi’s tying goal in the 64th minute.
Ramin Rezaeian put Iran ahead early and then helped swing the game back again. He scored in the 32nd minute to equalize after New Zealand’s second burst of momentum. and he also assisted Mohebbi’s goal. sending the contest into the kind of late drama that keeps a tournament from feeling like an opening ceremony.
Before kickoff. Team Melli walked onto the pitch near Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium under a pro-Iranian crowd that reflected the massive Iranian diaspora in the area. Outside the stadium, several hundred Iranian Americans protested the government. On the field. some fans from the diaspora jeered and turned their backs during the national anthem. only to offer support once the match began.
The match itself started with New Zealand pushing first. In the seventh minute. captain Chris Wood intercepted a goal kick and worked the ball to Elijah Just. who volleyed home a goal in traffic. New Zealand then scored again in the first half. with Just finding the net early in the second as well. giving the All Whites a 2-0 advantage before Iran could settle.
Iran’s comeback began in the 32nd minute when Rezaeian chipped the ball in with the outside of his boot to pull the score back. The response kept coming. In the 54th minute. Just scored again for New Zealand. assisted by Wood. who held up play and found Just for a shot through traffic — a moment that left Iran’s players facing yet another uphill battle.
But Iran refused to absorb the blow and stay down. In the 64th minute, Rezaeian delivered a perfect long pass on Mohebbi’s head, and the momentum shifted again, even as both teams generated scoring chances afterward without finding a winner.
That result left New Zealand winless no longer in World Cup history at least in this tournament — the All Whites remained without a victory in their World Cup history going into the match. and after this draw they maintained their place in the group as a side capable of matching teams well above their ranking. New Zealand’s performance also stood out because it entered the competition at 85th in the world. then posted an impressive result against a team ranked 65 places higher by FIFA.
Iran’s place in this World Cup has been defined as much by politics as by football. The U.S. and Israel began a war against Iran on Feb. 28, and Iran’s World Cup cycle has been in upheaval since. Iran ultimately decided to compete even after FIFA rejected its request to move its three group-stage matches out of the U.S. During the tournament, Iran moved its training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, flying into the U.S. on the day before each game and returning quickly to Mexico.
Captain Mehdi Taremi acknowledged that this World Cup has been a difficult experience. He described it as containing little of the joy that soccer represents to him and his teammates.
After the final whistle, the tension eased into the kind of sportsmanship that still cuts through everything around it. Players from both teams embraced and shook hands. with at least one jersey swap recorded as Iran’s players gathered together and walked around the field applauding their thousands of flag-waving. roaring fans.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei remained seated by himself in the dugout while his players celebrated the draw another day, another lift of the arm to the crowd.
On the broader tournament backdrop. Iran is ranked 20th in its seventh World Cup appearance and has made four straight appearances. Team Melli has never advanced from the group stage. New Zealand. meanwhile. qualified for its first World Cup since 2010 despite being the lowest-rated team in the field. seizing the first automatic qualifying berth for the 13-member Oceania Football Confederation after the World Cup expanded to 48 teams.
Iran vs New Zealand World Cup Team Melli Ramin Rezaeian Mohammad Mohebbi Mehdi Taremi Chris Wood Elijah Just SoFi Stadium Inglewood World Cup opener
2-2 is cool I guess but why did they have protesters outside??
Sounds like Iran just kept getting lucky and New Zealand kept messing up. Also the anthem thing… people turning backs makes me uncomfortable. I mean who does that.
Wait so Iran “fought back twice” but they were down 2-0? That’s not twice though, that’s once? Unless I missed it. Rezaeian helped too right, but I swear I saw somewhere it was another guy. anyway congrats for making it dramatic.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and pro-Iranian crowd… I feel like this match was more politics than football. They said diaspora jeered during anthem then supported after?? That’s wild. Also I can’t even keep track of who scored when because the article jumps around.