Iran vs New Zealand: 2-2 Draw at SoFi Stadium, With Protests Held Outside Ground

New Zealand held Iran to a 2-2 draw at SoFi Stadium in FIFA World Cup 2026, with Elijah Just scoring twice and protests held outside the ground.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage: New Zealand held a strong Iranian side to a 2-2 draw at SoFi Stadium. Despite being ranked 85th in the world against Iran's 20th, New Zealand produced a remarkable display to deny their higher-ranked opponents a win.

Elijah Just Surprised Everyone

New Zealand's first goal came from Elijah Just in the seventh minute. He then added a second in the 55th minute as well. For Iran, Ramin Rezaeian scored in the 32nd minute, and Mohammad Mohebbi equalised in the 64th minute to level the contest.

While the match was being played inside the stadium, protests were also continuing outside. During the national anthem, several fans booed and expressed opposition to the government. It is worth noting that before the FIFA World Cup, Iran's participation in the tournament was not considered certain; however, the team eventually set up their training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, and arrived in the United States just one day before the match.

Right from the start of the contest, Elijah Just's goal in the seventh minute left Iranian fans stunned. Iran then made continuous attempts at a comeback, and in the 32nd minute, Ramin Rezaeian scored to draw his side level.

A Tight Contest in the Second Half

The second half saw a closely fought battle between the two sides. Watching the match, it did not feel at all as though teams ranked 20th and 85th in the world were facing each other. In the 55th minute, on a pass from New Zealand captain Chris Wood, Elijah Just once again found the net to give New Zealand a 2-1 lead.

Iran Levelled in the 64th Minute

Even after that, Iran did not give up. In the 64th minute, Mohammad Mohebbi converted a fine pass from Ramin Rezaeian to make it 2-2. After that, neither side could score before the final whistle, and the match ended in a draw.

After the match, the Iranian players went around the entire pitch to express their gratitude to the thousands of fans present. A large number of Iranian supporters had come to the stadium to watch this contest. Following this draw, New Zealand have moved to first place in the group, while Iran are currently in second.