Iran are readying for their opening match of the World Cup 2026 after an incident heavy build-up to the tournament. Iran will face New Zealand in Group G hoping to secure a win and move to the top of the table after Belgium and Egypt played out an earlier 1-1 draw.
Iran’s captain Mehdi Taremi has criticised Fifa for the impact that his nation’s war with the US has had on preparations with the team having been forced to move their base to Mexico amid visa issues plaguing members of their delegation and travelling fans being stripped of match tickets.
Iranian protesters have also vowed to disrupt the match to show their displeasure at the brutal ruling regime, with plans to boo the anthem and turn their backs to display currently prohibited pre-revolutionary flags. If that happens, there is a chance the match could be halted, with Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei under specific instructions from the country’s government to stop play if pre-revolutionary flags are brandished or if negative chanting is audible.
This match is more than just the action on the pitch especially following Donald Trump’s announcement of a US-Iran peace agreement. Yet the players will need to distance themselves from outside noise and pressures to perform at their best.
Follow all of the latest from Iran v New Zealand with our live blog below:
World Cup Insider: Get a matchday briefing from our writers in the US, Canada and Mexico
The biggest tournament in football is finally here.
Over six weeks, 48 nations will battle it out across the United States, Canada and Mexico, producing unforgettable moments, dramatic upsets, tactical masterclasses and plenty of controversy along the way.
But with matches taking place across multiple time zones and headlines arriving around the clock, keeping up with everything that matters will be a challenge.
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New Zealand profile
Star player – Chris Wood: The best footballer New Zealand have ever produced, Wood actually struggled with form and fitness this season, after scoring a stunning 20 Premier League goals in 2024-25. On the flip side, it may mean he is fresh for this summer’s showpiece. Set-pieces and his aerial threat will be vital.
Breakout talent – Lachlan Bayliss: The 23-year-old only made his debut in March but could be important in New Zealand’s midfield engine room. Previously a regular for A-League team Newcastle Jets, he is now unattached after the expiration of his contract.
Fifa ranking: 85
Odds to win the World Cup: 1000/1.
Pre-revolutionary Iran flag seen at SoFi Stadium in LA
A pre-revolutionary Iran flag is displayed at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, which has the same colours as the current official flag but has a different lion-and-sun motif.
Iran has threatened to halt matches if unofficial flags are brought in or slogans chanted.
New Zealand preview
The lowest-ranked team at this summer’s World Cup, New Zealand have undoubtedly benefited from the tournament’s expansion and comfortably secured Oceania’s one guaranteed spot, with Australia long taking part in Asian qualifying.
It is their first appearance since South Africa 2010, when they memorably emerged as the only unbeaten side of the tournament, drawing all three of their group games. Chris Wood featured back then (at 18) and he is now (at 34) his country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 45 goals in 90 caps.
They will be led by English coach Darren Bazeley, who has even picked a player in English football’s non-league system: Braintree Town’s 36-year-old defender, Tommy Smith. The All Whites will be rigid in their shape and will pray for Wood to produce a moment of magic up top.
Iran profile
Star player – Mehdi Taremi: Now at Olympiacos after an impressive four-year stay at Porto, the onus will be on Taremi at the attacking end of the pitch. He had 10 goals and seven assists to his name in qualifying and, given Iran’s likely defensive set-up, his output will be vital if they are to progress.
Breakout talent – Mehdi Ghayedi: The flashy Al-Nasr (UAE, not Saudi Arabia) winger has long been heralded as a bright prospect but now, at 27, it is his time to shine. He does have an impressive record for his country: 10 goals in 30 appearances.
Fifa ranking: 20.
Odds to win the World Cup: 500/1.
Iran vs New Zealand starting line-ups
Iran XI: Alireza Beiranvand; Shojae Khalilzadeh, Milad Mohammadi, Aria Yousefi, Ali Nemati, Ramin Rezaeian; Saeid Ezatolahi, Mohammad Mohebi, Saman Ghoddos; Mehdi Taremi, Shahriyar Moghanlou
New Zealand XI: Max Crocombe; Tim Payne, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Finn Surman; Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic, Sarpreet Singh, Elijah Just, Callum McCowatt; Chris Wood
Iran squad
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis)
Defenders: Danial Eiri (Malavan), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Hossein Kanaani (Persepolis), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati Omid Noorafkan (Foolad), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad)
Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al Ahli), Mehdi Ghaedi (Al-Nassr), Saman Ghoddos (Kalba), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al Wahda), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov), Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)
Forwards: Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Dennis Dargahi (Standard Liege), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Shahriyar Moghanlou (Kalba), Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos)
Coach: Amir Ghalenoei
Iran preview
The story of the tournament. Will they play? Will they be allowed in the US? Can they actually progress beyond the group? Well: yes, yes (sort of), and definitely yes.
Geo-politically, their participation is without precedent: playing in a World Cup while at war with a co-host. They have moved their base from Arizona to Mexico, near the US border in Tijuana.
Reports indicate they will have visas which only permit them in the US on the day of the games; they have two in Los Angeles (20-30 minute flight from Tijuana) and Seattle (three-hour flight from Tijuana). For obvious reasons, Iran will have a constant daily news cycle of their own.
On the sporting side, the biggest shock is the omission of striker Sardar Azmoun, once heralded as the “Iranian Messi”, who has an impressive strike rate of 57 goals in 91 caps. Local media reports suggest he has been expelled for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government, despite Iran’s vice president Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh pleading for his inclusion. Olympiacos star Mehdi Taremi will lead the attack instead.
World Cup VAR official releases statement after alleged white supremacist hand gesture
Fifa World Cup 2026 official Shaun Evans has denied “intentionally” making a gesture that some perceived to be connected to an expression of white supremacy.
The Australian referee, working as part of the VAR team in Dallas at the World Cup broadcast centre, was seen making an “OK” symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg when the official broadcast of Germany against Curaçao on Sunday cut away from pre-game footage to show the team of video review analysts.
The match, played in Houston, led to many complaints over the gesture, which sees a thumb and forefinger touched in a circle and other fingers outstretched and was interpreted as a hate symbol by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League in 2019.
Tunisia sack manager after heavy World Cup loss to Sweden
Tunisia have taken drastic measures following their 5-1 defeat to Sweden and have sacked manager Sabri Lamouchi with two World Cup 2026 group games still to play.
Lamouchi only took charge of the team in January and managed just five games before his dismissal. He won once, a 1-0 over Haiti, and the Tunisian FA announced that Mondher Kebaier will take charge on an interim basis.
Kebaier previously led the national team between 2019-2022 and will likely be in charge for the rest of the World Cup campaign in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
