After 16 years away from the world stage, New Zealand’s return to the FIFA World Cup™ was a positive one, claiming a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Iran in their opening group stage match in Los Angeles.
In what some have labelled one of the more entertaining games of this World Cup so far, Elijah Just twice gave the All Whites the lead, only to be pegged back by two Iranian goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi.
The result is New Zealand’s fourth point at a FIFA World Cup and extends their unbeaten run at the tournament to four matches, following a string of draws against Slovakia, Italy, and Paraguay at their last appearance in 2010. Technically, they are unbeaten at the World Cup since a 0-4 defeat to Brazil in 1982.
As the dust settles on their opening Group G encounter at FIFA World Cup 2026™, we’ve decided to take a closer look at the tactical decisions, plays, and moments that made the contest what it was.
Context
Opening games at FIFA World Cup’s are traditionally pressure cooker environments, dominated by adrenaline and emotion. Even more so for nations like New Zealand, after so long away from the world stage.
As a result, teams often tend to be more conservative and cautious, making for cagey and tight affairs with few opportunities. However, with Belgium and Egypt playing out a 1-1 draw in the earlier Group G game, of whom both arguably possess more offensive firepower, it’s fair to say New Zealand and Iran had targeted this game for three points.
What eventuated was an open, end-to-end encounter, unusual for such an early stage at a World Cup.
New Zealand’s proactive mindset
Scoring goals against international opponents from outside OFC has traditionally been an Achilles heel for the All Whites. Coming into this first World Cup match, New Zealand had failed to score in either of their warm-up games, nor in four of their last five international matches dating back to November.
So, finding the net not just once, but twice, should be a major positive for Darren Bazeley moving forward, given efficiency in front of goal has sometimes deserted the All Whites. In scoring both goals, Elijah Just also becomes New Zealand’s top goalscorer at FIFA World Cup’s, joining Shane Smeltz, Winston Reid, Steve Wooddin, and Steve Sumner, as the only five men to score for New Zealand at the tournament.
Starting on the left wing, Just did superbly well to cut inside and make the forward runs that were able to support the hold-up play of Chris Wood in and around the penalty area – whilst also maintaining his nerve to add two world-class finishes that take his international goal tally to 12.
Credit must also go to the proactive way in which Bazeley set his side up to approach the game. They conjured eight shots on target, twice as many as Iran, and edged the possession stats with 52%.
A first win at the FIFA World Cup still eludes them, but it was a sign of a step in the right direction for New Zealand.
Wood comes to the fore
Arriving at this World Cup as New Zealand’s captain, most-capped player, all-time top goalscorer, and one of only two in the squad who featured at the All Whites last appearance at the finals in 2010, the pressure was on Chris Wood to stand up and make an impact for his country.
He did exactly that, producing some excellent hold-up play to provide the assists for both of Elijah Just’s two goals.
It’s a role he hasn’t usually been accustomed to playing for the All Whites, rather acting as the target man to service into shooting position inside the final third. Against Iran he dropped slightly deeper though, and dragged both opposing center-backs with him, allowing New Zealand’s attacking midfield quartet to run off his playmaking ability and penetrate the space left behind.
Bazeley’s instruction for his star striker proved a masterstroke and rather bamboozled the Iranian defence for both goals. With such a physical and aerial presence, he’ll also be hoping to find the net himself in their final two group games.
Vulnerability in transition
In pushing numbers forward and controlling more of the ball, New Zealand left themselves vulnerable to the pace of the Iranian transition on occasion. The characteristic was evident in their 0-4 warm-up defeat to Haiti prior to the World Cup and was again apparent here.
Pushing fullbacks forward in particular to provide service and aerial ball for Wood, is a feature of this New Zealand side, but getting back in time to counter any rapid attacking threat in down the flanks in transition from opposition has caught out the All Whites in recent times. Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi almost made them pay when he struck the right post plumb inside the first half hour. There were also a couple of moments where the center-back pairing of Finn Surman and Michael Boxall were forced to make crucial interventions.
Such opportunities in transition are the ones that Iran have relied upon at previous World Cup’s, but it wasn’t to be for them here. Rather, both goals that the New Zealand defence conceded came from controlled Iranian possession.
Nevertheless, it is a weakness that New Zealand’s other Group G opponents will have noticed, and against the superstar names like Mohamed Salah and Jeremy Doku, it is unlikely the All Whites will get away with it.
Iran’s experience
New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley said that he felt his side were slightly disappointed not to hold on for all three points after giving up the lead twice. When you take into consideration the experience of their opponents in comparison though, it was no surprise Iran found a way to fight back.
With an average age of over 30, Iran have brought the second-oldest squad to FIFA World Cup 2026. Eight have played at previous World Cup’s, whilst a vast majority also have experience of previous Asian Cup’s, and the intensity of AFC qualifying processes, making them battle-hardened for major tournaments.
In comparison, Wood was the only player on the pitch who had featured at a previous World Cup for New Zealand, with the other 15 who made an appearance, experiencing this stage for the first time.
That experience and tactical maturity was on show as Iran fought to come from behind twice for Rezaeian and Mohebi’s goals.
Looking forward to Egypt
Egypt’s 1-1 draw with Belgium means all four nations in Group G sit equal on one point apiece after the opening set of matches. That only increases the stakes moving forward as the four nations fight progress to the knockout stages.
New Zealand move to Vancouver next for their final two group games, the first against Egypt on Monday NZT. They can take lots of confidence from their opening draw against Iran, particularly from some of their attacking play. The Egyptians will present another difficult challenge though and gave a strong account of themselves against Belgium.
With Mohamed Salah at their disposal, Egypt have a clear attacking threat that the New Zealand back four will have to keep an eye on. It may be a lot easier said than done, but if the All Whites can shut the playmaker down, they’ll go a long way to securing another positive result in this group.
New Zealand’s remaining fixture schedule at FIFA World Cup 2026:
New Zealand vs Egypt | BC Place Vancouver, Canada |Sunday June 21, 6pm (Monday June 22, 1pm NZT)
New Zealand vs Belgium | BC Place Vancouver, Canada | Friday June 26, 8pm (Saturday June 27, 3pm NZ time)