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Sport Nation
All Whites denied historic World Cup victory in thrilling encounter with Iran
Henry Lee • June 16th, 2026 3:05 pm
Eli Just celebrates with his NZ teammates | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
The All Whites have come painfully close to securing their maiden FIFA World Cup victory in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Iran twice fought back from a goal behind to salvage a 2-2 draw in their Group G opener, leaving New Zealand with a valuable point in their quest to advance to the knockout stage for the first time - but with a tinge of regret.
Darren Bazeley’s side led twice during the contest, but Amir Ghalenoei’s Iran never felt, or played, like they were out of the Group G encounter.
Motherwell’s Eli Just had two chances and buried them both. But each were answered by their opponents, first by Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi in a highly entertaining encounter.
The All Whites can keep their heads held high, exceeding realistic expectations in their first appearance at a World Cup since 2010 in South Africa.
It was a nervous start by Bazeley’s men, despite having half of the possession during the first five minutes.
The game was back-and-forth in the opening stages, with both teams starting their campaigns nervously.
The stage is set for All Whites and Iran in LA | Photo: Photosport
In the seventh minute, the game sprung into action.
A simple long ball from All Whites goalkeeper Max Crocombe ended up at the chest of Chris Wood, who took it down gracefully before passing it to Just.
Just looked for Sarpreet Singh, finding him with a subtle one-two that landed in the path of Wood just inside of the 18-yard box.
Wood shielded the ball brilliantly from a last-ditch Iran defender, as Just continued his run to power the ball home.
It was a beautifully worked breakthrough seven minutes into the contest, the All Whites’ first goal in a FIFA World Cup since Shane Smeltz’s goal against Italy at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa.
Clinical. Not words that many have used for the All Whites leading up to the biggest sporting tournament on the planet, but when it mattered most, one of their most lively players, Just, put himself into the history books.
The All Whites then built on the momentum of Just’s goal to create a golden chance minutes later, following a Callum McCowatt overhead attempt. It fell to Wood, but a critical intervention in the six-yard box by Shahriyar Moghanaloo kept the score at 1-0.
The mandatory 25th-minute hydration break was at the worst possible time for the Kiwis, as they started to gain control of the contest.
Iran began to keep hold of the ball and dominate proceedings at SoFI Stadium, before the equaliser came in the 32nd minute.
The Kiwis gifted Iran the ball in midfield and were made to pay. Iran went wide down the right-hand touchline, patiently keeping possession in and around the All Whites' area.
NZ goalkeeper Max Crocombe clears a delivery against Iran | Photo: Photosport
Saman Ghoddos received a cross on the edge of the box, threading it through to Moghanaloo, who looked to pierce the ball into the back of the net. Surman made a last-effort block, but it fell to Ramin Rezaelan, who tucked it away into the corner.
Iran then thought they took the lead on the stroke of halftime, but Iranian defender Ali Nemati strayed offside.
Bazeley and the All Whites coaching staff would enter the changing rooms, the happier of the two sets of coaches, after creating a number of chances they may not have expected to have.
Wood’s ambitious shot from 25-yards sailed well over the upright in the half’s first chance, but the All Whites started the second 45 minutes on the front foot.
Some superb defending by Joe Bell and Cacace in midfield started a counter-attack for the Kiwis, where it was that man, Elijah Henry Just, at the end of yet another dangerous attack.
The ball fell to Sarpreet Singh’s feet on the half turn, subtly shifting the ball onto Just as he continued his run into the box. Just saw Wood in space before a perfectly weighted lay-off pass back to Just, who smashed the ball in the back of the net in a matter of seconds.
It was Just’s weaker right foot again, the same foot he scored the first with, that blasted the ball into the net to give Bazeley’s men the lead, once again.
The game was far from over, though.
Iran has shown their quality in spades, at times during the contest, which was on show yet again as they levelled the Group G contest in the 64th minute.
Rezaeian picked up the ball on the right flank after a magnificent left-to-right diagonal ball deep inside the All Whites’ half.
His delivery, as it has been for the whole game, was on point. His cross landed on the head of Mohammad Mohebbi, who beautifully glanced the ball off the post and into the corner of the net.
Surman and Michael Boxall will both be incredibly disappointed in the defending during the lead-up, as Mohebbi was completely free in the six-yard box to level the contest.
Large parts of the final quarter was spent with Iran going from side-to-side with the ball at their feet, without creating a clear cut opportunity.
Both teams’ defenders battled for their lives and earned a well-deserved point each to kickstart their respective tournaments.
The All Whites will take on Egypt next Monday at 1pm, after Iran try to get their first win of the competition against Belgium at 7am.
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