Iran and New Zealand go against each other in their first Group G encounter of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday at the Los Angeles Stadium.
Iran vs New Zealand – Match preview and team news
- Date: Tuesday, 16th May.
- Kick-off: 2am BST.
- Venue: Los Angeles Stadium, California.
Iran team news
Iran enters their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G opener with a fully fit squad.
Midfielders Roozbeh Cheshmi and Mehdi Torabi have fully recovered from their respective hamstring and calf issues. Both players returned to full training this week and are available for selection.
In another major fitness boost, star midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi has completely recovered from a recent foot injury and will likely start in the midfield.
However, manager Amir Ghalenoei made a major headline decision by dropping star striker Sardar Azmoun from the final World Cup squad to choose a different frontline.
In his absence, the Olympiacos striker Mehdi Taremi will lead the attack as the primary focal point.
Veteran Alireza Beiranvand remains locked in as the first-choice goalkeeper behind the defence.
New Zealand team news
New Zealand boasts a completely clean bill of health ahead of their highly anticipated Monday night clash in Los Angeles.
The All Whites have no injury concerns or suspension worries heading into this opening group match.
Veteran Premier League striker Chris Wood will spearhead the attack as the primary target man and captain. He will be supported in the final third by creative players like Sarpreet Singh and Matthew Garbett.
In the defensive line, Michael Boxall and Finn Surman are expected to start as the central pairing. They will have the heavy task of absorbing Iran’s attacking pressure.
Wrexham left-back Liberato Cacace will provide width and top-tier experience on the flank, while Max Crocombe is expected to start between the posts.
Form
Iran
Iran comes into the World Cup in excellent form, showing strong momentum under manager Amir Ghalenoei. In their final warm-up fixtures leading up to the tournament, they picked up consecutive victories by defeating Mali 2-0, Gambia 3-1, and dominating Costa Rica 5-0. Their only recent setback was a narrow 2-1 friendly loss to Nigeria back in March. Overall, Team Melli looks sharp, highly cohesive, and dangerous in attack.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s recent form has been more mixed and challenging against high-profile international opponents. The All Whites suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to Haiti and a tight 1-1 battle that ended in a 1-0 loss to England in June friendlies. This followed a 4-1 victory over Chile and a 2-0 defeat against Finland in March. They will rely heavily on their defensive structure to turn things around.
Predicted lineups
Iran: Beiranvand; Rezaeian, Khalilzadeh, Kanaani, Hajsafi; Ezatolahi, Razzaghinia; Mohebi, Ghoddos, Ghayedi; Taremi
New Zealand: Crocombe; Payne, Surman, Boxall, Cacace; Bell, Stamenic; Just, Garbett, Singh; Wood
How to watch Iran vs New Zealand?
You can watch the Iran vs New Zealand match live on BBC One in the UK.
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