LOS ANGELES — At SoFi Stadium, a 26-year-old midfielder from Motherwell with a Chinese mother and a German father wrote his name into New Zealand football history. Elijah Just scored twice — the first New Zealander ever to bag a brace at a World Cup — but it still wasn’t enough to beat Iran, who clawed their way back from behind not once, but twice, to salvage a 2-2 draw.

The result leaves Group G in a state of perfect equilibrium: all four teams sit on one point after the opening round. Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand — nobody has won, nobody has lost, and nobody has a clue who will advance.

Seven Minutes of Shock

Iran’s World Cup had barely begun when it threatened to unravel. In the 7th minute, Chris Wood — the 34-year-old target man playing his first World Cup match in 15 years and 357 days — chested the ball down on the edge of the box and laid it off to Just. The Motherwell man didn’t hesitate. His right-footed volley screamed past Alireza Beiranvand and into the top corner.

It was the second-fastest goal Iran have ever conceded at a World Cup. The fastest? That was in 1978, when Peru’s José Velásquez scored after just two minutes. Forty-eight years later, history was repeating itself.

Rezaeian’s Response

Iran did not panic. In the 32nd minute, Ramin Rezaeian — the right-back who scored against Wales in 2022 — ghosted into the box and poked home the equaliser. It was his second World Cup goal, making him only the second Iranian after Mehdi Taremi to score twice on football’s biggest stage.

Iran have now scored in their opening match at three consecutive World Cups: 2018 (own goal vs Morocco), 2022 (Taremi double vs England), and 2026 (Rezaeian’s strike). The streak is alive. But streaks don’t win matches.

Just Does It Again

The 54th minute brought déjà vu. Wood, again, was the architect. His flick-on found Just, who threw himself at the ball with a sliding finish that beat Beiranvand for the second time. 2-1 New Zealand. Just had done what no New Zealander had ever done: score twice in a single World Cup match.

New Zealand’s previous World Cup goals came in 1982 against Scotland — a 5-2 defeat where Steve Sumner and Steve Wooddin scored one each. Forty-four years between multi-goal World Cup performances. Just had bridged the gap by himself.

Mohebi’s Header

But Iran had one more answer. In the 64th minute, Rezaeian swung a cross from the right, and Mohammad Mohebi rose above the New Zealand defence to power a header into the net. 2-2. Rezaeian became the first Iranian to register a goal and an assist in the same World Cup match. Iran’s last three World Cup goals have all involved him directly.

The Numbers

New Zealand actually outshot Iran on target: 8 shots on target to Iran’s 4. Beiranvand made 6 saves; Max Crocombe made just 2. Iran had more dangerous attacks (56 to 44) but lacked the cutting edge to convert pressure into a winner.

The Off-Field Burden

Iran arrived at this World Cup under extraordinary circumstances. Fifteen members of their 70-person delegation were denied US visas, including Football Federation president Mehdi Taj. The team was forced to base their preparations in Tijuana, Mexico, commuting five hours across the border for each match. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei described “distractions unrelated to football” affecting his squad. It was only on June 15 — the day before this match — that Iran finally received confirmation they would be permitted to stay overnight in the United States during the tournament.

Against that backdrop, fighting back twice to earn a point feels like a victory of sorts.

Group G Standings

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Belgium 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
2 Egypt 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
3 Iran 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
4 New Zealand 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1

All four teams are level on points. Iran face Belgium next in Los Angeles on June 21. New Zealand meet Egypt in Vancouver the same day. The group could not be more open.

Match Details:

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