Iran Draws 2-2 With New Zealand in 2026 World Cup Opener

Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 16 June 2026. The match was Iran's opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and ended without major incident inside the stadium. Iranian fans vastly outnumbered New Zealand supporters.

Chants of "Iran, Iran" filled the stands each time Team Melli built an attack. The team hit the woodwork once and dropped two points against a lower-ranked opponent. A small group of demonstrators gathered outside the venue.

Protester Kourosh Kiumarsi told Al Jazeera that the squad represented the "regime team" and added: "Israel and the USA attacked the regime and helped the people of Iran. " Inside the stadium, many fans displayed the pre-1979 lion-and-sun flag despite FIFA rules against political symbols.

Sudi Farokhnia, wearing a green-white-and-red wig and the same flag on her shirt, said after the match: "I love that all the hype was just outside of the stadium.

Once you walked into the stadium, all you could hear was Iran, Iran, Iran. " Palestinian and Israeli flags were also visible in the stands, and many fans jeered the Iranian national anthem at kickoff. Iran's team stayed in Mexico throughout the group stage after the Trump administration declined to host them in the United States.

U.S. ticket allocation had been withdrawn days earlier. "When Iran scored, almost all Iranians cheered," Al Jazeera reported from the stadium.