In their opening match at the World Cup in Los Angeles, Iran and New Zealand drew 2-2.
The deadlock was broken early when New Zealand took the lead in the 7th minute. Elijah Just scored after a coordinated effort with Wood and Singh, firing the ball under the crossbar. However, Iran soon responded in the 32nd minute, with Ramin Rezaeian finding the net from a rebound to level the score.
The second half saw New Zealand regain the advantage. Just scored his second goal in the 55th minute after a two-pass move with Wood, skillfully lofting the ball over the Iranian goalkeeper. Iran refused to be discouraged, managing to equalize again in the 64th minute when Mohammad Mohebi headed home a cross from Rezaeian.
Throughout the remainder of the game, both teams had opportunities to secure a victory, but neither side could convert on their chances. Iran held a slight advantage in possession, while New Zealand remained a constant threat through speedy counterattacks. Despite an intense final phase, the score remained locked at 2-2, a result that truly mirrored the competitive flow of the match.
