The Iran national football team faced New Zealand in the 2026 World Cup at Los Angeles Stadium, ending in a 2-2 draw. The match took place against a backdrop of protests against Tehran's government and a peace deal that ended the US-Iran war. Elijah Just scored both goals for New Zealand, while Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi netted for Iran. As New Zealand took the lead, anti-regime Iranian fans celebrated alongside New Zealand supporters, waving pre-Islamic Revolution flags. However, the majority of the crowd of over 70,000 rallied behind Team Melli, chanting 'Ir-ran! Ir-ran!' The draw means all four teams in Group G have one point. The Iran national football team is aiming to reach the knockout stage for the first time. Iran's next match will be against Belgium in Los Angeles.