The Iran national football team, led by coach Amir Ghalenoei, is heading to the 2026 World Cup and will play its first match against New Zealand. This game is crucial for Iran's advancement from the group stage. Alireza Beiranvand, the team's goalkeeper, will experience his third World Cup. In the defense line, Amir Ghalenoei will use the old pair of Kanani Zadegan and Shoja Khalilzadeh. Mehdi Taremi, the team's striker, is one of the most well-known faces in the attack line. Iran and New Zealand have faced each other twice before, and the Iranian national team has won both games.