New Zealand 2 – 2 Iran

WORLDCUP · June 16, 2026 · Final

🎧 Post-Game Report (audio)

Post-Game Recap

New Zealand and Iran played to a two-all draw at the twenty twenty-six World Cup, and this one had real drama from start to finish. Iran came out controlling the ball, working it through the midfield with Ali Nemati pulling the strings — fifty-one accurate passes and fifteen defensive interventions, the man was everywhere. But it was New Zealand who found the net first, Chris Wood leading the line and getting off four shots on the night, making his presence felt every time the All Whites pushed forward. Iran answered, and then some — Shahriyar Moghanloo was the most dangerous attacker on the pitch with three shots, and Iran's pressure eventually paid off as they flipped the scoreline. New Zealand dug in and leveled it again, forcing Alireza Beiranvand into six saves to keep it from getting worse for the Iranians. The numbers tell an interesting story — Iran put seventeen shots up but only four on target, while New Zealand managed eight on goal from just fourteen attempts, a conversion efficiency that kept them very much alive. Finn Surman quietly ran the New Zealand engine with fifty-one accurate passes of his own, matching Nemati ball for ball. In the end neither side could find a winner, and honestly, neither deserved to lose. That's your post-game report. Sports Desk, signing off.

AI-generated post-game report composed from the official play-by-play and box score.

Complete Play-by-Play

Show all 105 plays

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

First Half begins.

Arya Yousefi (IR Iran) wins a free kick on the left wing. 3'

Foul by Joe Bell (New Zealand). 3'

Attempt saved. Arya Yousefi (IR Iran) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Max Crocombe (New Zealand). Assisted by Saman Ghoddos. 6'

Goal! IR Iran 0, New Zealand 1. Elijah Just (New Zealand) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Chris Wood. 7'

Michael Boxall (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 11'

Foul by Shahriyar Moghanloo (IR Iran). 11'

Attempt missed. Sarpreet Singh (New Zealand) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Elijah Just. 12'

Attempt blocked. Marko Stamenic (New Zealand) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. 14'

Corner, New Zealand. Conceded by Arya Yousefi. 14'

Attempt missed. Callum McCowatt (New Zealand) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left following a corner. 14'

Attempt blocked. Chris Wood (New Zealand) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. 14'

Delay in match because of an injury Shahriyar Moghanloo (IR Iran). 17'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 18'

Attempt saved. Sarpreet Singh (New Zealand) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Alireza Beiranvand (IR Iran). Assisted by Finn Surman. 19'

Foul by Sarpreet Singh (New Zealand). 20'

Ramin Rezaeian (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 20'

Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Ali Nemati following a fast break. 23'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 25'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 28'

Attempt missed. Saman Ghoddos (IR Iran) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. 29'

Attempt saved. Liberato Cacace (New Zealand) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Alireza Beiranvand (IR Iran). Assisted by Sarpreet Singh. 29'

Attempt missed. Saman Ghoddos (IR Iran) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Mohammad Mohebbi. 30'

Attempt blocked. Shahriyar Moghanloo (IR Iran) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. 32'

Goal! IR Iran 1, New Zealand 1. Ramin Rezaeian (IR Iran) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. 32'

Delay in match because of an injury Shahriyar Moghanloo (IR Iran). 35'

Delay in match because of an injury Marko Stamenic (New Zealand). 35'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 35'

Shahriyar Moghanloo (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 37'

Foul by Marko Stamenic (New Zealand). 37'

Delay in match because of an injury Saeid Ezatolahi (IR Iran). 39'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 41'

Liberato Cacace (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 43'

Foul by Shoja Khalilzadeh (IR Iran). 43'

Attempt saved. Chris Wood (New Zealand) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Alireza Beiranvand (IR Iran). 44'

Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time. 45'

Attempt saved. Callum McCowatt (New Zealand) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Alireza Beiranvand (IR Iran). Assisted by Chris Wood. 45'+1'

Attempt missed. Shahriyar Moghanloo (IR Iran) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Arya Yousefi. 45'+3'

Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 45'+4'

Foul by Elijah Just (New Zealand). 45'+4'

Offside, IR Iran. Ali Nemati is caught offside. 45'+5'

First Half ends, IR Iran 1, New Zealand 1. 45'+7'

Substitution, IR Iran. Mehdi Ghayedi replaces Arya Yousefi. 45'

Second Half begins IR Iran 1, New Zealand 1. 45'

Attempt missed. Chris Wood (New Zealand) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Max Crocombe. 47'

Corner, IR Iran. Conceded by Tim Payne. 48'

Attempt blocked. Mehdi Ghayedi (IR Iran) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ali Nemati with a headed pass. 49'

Attempt missed. Shahriyar Moghanloo (IR Iran) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ramin Rezaeian. 51'

Substitution, IR Iran. Ali Alipour replaces Shahriyar Moghanloo. 53'

Foul by Ali Alipour (IR Iran). 54'

Finn Surman (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 54'

Goal! IR Iran 1, New Zealand 2. Elijah Just (New Zealand) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Chris Wood following a fast break. 54'

Offside, IR Iran. Saman Ghoddos is caught offside. 57'

Mehdi Ghayedi (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 59'

Foul by Tim Payne (New Zealand). 59'

Foul by Shoja Khalilzadeh (IR Iran). 61'

Callum McCowatt (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 61'

Attempt saved. Sarpreet Singh (New Zealand) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Alireza Beiranvand (IR Iran). Assisted by Chris Wood. 61'

Goal! IR Iran 2, New Zealand 2. Mohammad Mohebbi (IR Iran) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ramin Rezaeian with a cross. 64'

Substitution, IR Iran. Ehsan Hajisafi replaces Saman Ghoddos. 65'

Corner, IR Iran. Conceded by Michael Boxall. 67'

Max Crocombe (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 67'

Foul by Ali Nemati (IR Iran). 67'

Substitution, New Zealand. Ryan Thomas replaces Callum McCowatt. 68'

Substitution, New Zealand. Ben Old replaces Liberato Cacace. 68'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 68'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 70'

Attempt blocked. Mohammad Mohebbi (IR Iran) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mehdi Ghayedi. 73'

Elijah Just (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 73'

Foul by Saeid Ezatolahi (IR Iran). 73'

Attempt blocked. Ehsan Hajisafi (IR Iran) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mehdi Taremi. 76'

Foul by Mehdi Ghayedi (IR Iran). 76'

Tim Payne (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 76'

Substitution, New Zealand. Callan Elliot replaces Tim Payne. 78'

Delay in match because of an injury Saeid Ezatolahi (IR Iran). 78'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 79'

Attempt missed. Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ramin Rezaeian with a cross. 80'

Substitution, IR Iran. Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh replaces Mehdi Taremi. 80'

Ryan Thomas (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 81'

Foul by Saeid Ezatolahi (IR Iran). 81'

Attempt missed. Finn Surman (New Zealand) header from very close range is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation. 81'

Ramin Rezaeian (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 84'

Foul by Ryan Thomas (New Zealand). 84'

Attempt blocked. Ali Alipour (IR Iran) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. 85'

Attempt missed. Saeid Ezatolahi (IR Iran) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. 85'

Ehsan Hajisafi (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 86'

Foul by Marko Stamenic (New Zealand). 86'

Attempt saved. Saeid Ezatolahi (IR Iran) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Max Crocombe (New Zealand). Assisted by Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh. 87'

Corner, IR Iran. Conceded by Callan Elliot. 88'

Attempt missed. Ali Nemati (IR Iran) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner. 89'

Elijah Just (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 89'

Foul by Ehsan Hajisafi (IR Iran). 89'

Ehsan Hajisafi (IR Iran) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 89'

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. 90'

Substitution, New Zealand. Jesse Randall replaces Sarpreet Singh. 90'+2'

Substitution, New Zealand. Tyler Bindon replaces Marko Stamenic. 90'+2'

Attempt saved. Chris Wood (New Zealand) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Alireza Beiranvand (IR Iran). Assisted by Jesse Randall with a cross. 90'+2'

Corner, IR Iran. Conceded by Callan Elliot. 90'+4'

Foul by Ryan Thomas (New Zealand). 90'+5'

Ali Alipour (IR Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+5'

Foul by Mehdi Ghayedi (IR Iran). 90'+5'

Tyler Bindon (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+5'

Second Half ends, IR Iran 2, New Zealand 2. 90'+6'

Match ends, IR Iran 2, New Zealand 2.