Jacob Smith

17 Jun 2026

Iran’s World Cup opener against New Zealand was played against a back… – Jacob Smith

Iran’s World Cup opener against New Zealand was played against a backdrop of political demonstrations, with protesters gathering outside SoFi Stadium and some fans jeering the Iranian national anthem. On the field, the match delivered plenty of drama as Elijah Just twice gave New Zealand the lead, only for Iran to respond through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi. The entertaining contest ended in a hard-fought draw, highlighting both teams’ determination on football’s biggest stage. #WorldCup