By Suleman Chitera
Iran and New Zealand played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, as Group G of the FIFA World Cup remains wide open after the opening round of matches.Beer Sales Banned At World Cup Stadiums In Qatar
New Zealand twice took the lead through forward Elijah Just, who delivered a standout performance with a brace. The All Whites struck early when Just found the back of the net in the seventh minute to give his side a dream start.
Iran responded in the 33rd minute through experienced defender Ramin Rezaeian, who leveled the scores and ensured the Asian side went into halftime on equal terms.
Just restored New Zealand’s advantage nine minutes after the restart, scoring his second goal of the match in the 54th minute and putting his side on course for a valuable victory.FIFA World Cup Dream Shattered: Somali Referee Denied U.S. Entry
However, Iran once again fought back, with Mohammad Mohebbi netting the equalizer in the 64th minute to secure a share of the points.
Both teams pushed for a winner during the closing stages, but neither side could find a breakthrough as the match ended 2-2.
The result leaves Group G finely balanced, with all four teams sitting on one point after the opening fixtures. Earlier, Belgium and Egypt also played to a 1-1 draw, ensuring no team gained an early advantage in the group.2026 World Cup Qualifiers: A mountain too high for Super Eagles — Bafana coach
Attention now turns to the second round of matches on June 21, when Iran will face Belgium in a crucial encounter, while New Zealand take on Egypt as all four nations continue their quest for a place in the knockout stages.