Iran’s national football team, Team Melli, secured a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The match, played at Los Angeles Stadium on Tuesday, saw New Zealand take the lead twice, but Iran responded each time to level the score. This result denies New Zealand their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory against Iran. The draw occurred in Group G of the qualifying stage. The game demonstrated Iran’s resilience and ability to recover from setbacks. Both teams will continue their qualifying journeys with upcoming matches in the group.