[85303] Iran national team finishes in a disappointing draw against New Zealand in the 2026 World Cup
2026 World Cup: Iran and New Zealand part ways with a 2-2 draw
The Iranian national team opened its appearance at the 2026 World Cup in a disappointing match against New Zealand in Los Angeles, which ended in a 2-2 score. According to Varzesh Seh, the Iranian team, under the guidance of Amir Ghalenoei, failed to beat the lower-ranked opponent in the FIFA rankings, a result that led to Iran's drop to fourth place in the Asian rankings and 23rd in the world (according to a report by Varzesh Seh).
The match was marked by sharp political controversies. According to a report by "Iran International" (which takes a distinctly critical line against the Islamic Republic regime), despite government directives in Iran to prevent the waving of flags other than the flag of the Republic, Iranian fans inside the stadium waved the "Lion and Sun" flag associated with the opposition, protested against the national anthem, and even shouted slogans of "Death to the Islamic Republic" outside the stadium complex. The opposition Telegram channel Sport Bad News reported on the "silencing" and booing by the crowd toward the team players as they entered the field.
On the professional level, Ramin Rezaeian stood out above everyone with a goal and an assist, and was chosen as the "Player of the Match" (according to a report by Varzesh Seh). On the other side, New Zealander Elijah Just scored a brace, equalizing the score for his team. Iran's coach, Amir Ghalenoei, complained after the match about the treatment the team received from the hosts in the US: "We are the most oppressed team in the history of the World Cups," as quoted in Football 360.
The result caused great frustration among the official and semi-official Iranian media. The "Akharin Khabar" channel (linked to the establishment) criticized Ghalenoei and the team's defensive formation sharply, noting that it was a "poke in the eye" to the fans who expected an easy victory. FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the Iranian locker room after the match and tried to encourage the players, a gesture reported extensively by state media in Iran such as IRNA News Agency.