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New Zealand and Iran face off in World Cup opener

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 15, 2026, 3:55 PM

Last updated Jun 15, 2026

New Zealand and Iran face off in World Cup opener

Summary

New Zealand and Iran meet in their World Cup match at 02:00 (BST) on Tuesday. This encounter marks their first meeting since 2003, when Iran won the AFC-OFC Challenge Cup. Iran comes into the tournament amid political tensions affecting logistics and is seeking its first knockout-stage appearance after its seventh World Cup qualification. New Zealand aims to advance past the group stage for the first time, with captain Chris Wood making a notable return from injury. Both teams will face Egypt and Belgium later in Group G.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Match scheduled for 02:00 (BST) on Tuesday.
•Iran and New Zealand have met twice before, with Iran winning both.
•Iran aims for its first knockout-stage appearance in World Cup history.
•New Zealand's captain Chris Wood returns from a knee injury.
•Both teams also play Egypt and Belgium in Group G.

Latest Updates

3:55 PMYahoo Sports — PREVIEW: Lowest ranked qualifiers New Zealand face off with Iran

What they're saying

"
The two nations have met just twice before this fixture, with their most recent encounter coming in 2003 when Iran defeated New Zealand in the AFC-OFC Challenge Cup, a short-lived biennial tournament ...
— Yahoo Sports

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