Iran will face New Zealand in their opening Group G match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday at Los Angeles Stadium.
Iran arrive at the tournament in impressive shape, carrying strong momentum under head coach Amir Ghalenoei. In their final set of warm-up matches, they secured back-to-back wins, beating Mali 2-0, Gambia 3-1, and delivering a dominant 5-0 victory over Costa Rica.
Their only recent defeat came in March, when they narrowly lost 2-1 to Nigeria in a friendly. Overall, Team Melli looks well-organised, confident, and highly effective going forward.
Iran team news
Iran head into this opening fixture with a fully fit squad available for selection. Midfielders Roozbeh Cheshmi and Mehdi Torabi have both recovered from hamstring and calf injuries, respectively, returning to full training earlier this week.
Saeid Ezatolahi has also overcome a recent foot problem and is expected to feature in midfield from the start.
One of the biggest talking points, however, is the absence of striker Sardar Azmoun, who was left out of the final squad by Ghalenoei in a bold selection decision.
With Azmoun missing, Mehdi Taremi of Olympiacos is set to lead the attack as Iran’s main forward option.
In goal, experienced Alireza Beiranvand continues as the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper.
Iran predicted lineup
Possible Iran starting XI: Beiranvand; Rezaeian, Khalilzadeh, Kanaani, Hajsafi; Ezatolahi, Razzaghinia; Mohebi, Ghoddos, Ghayedi; Taremi
When will the match kick off?
The match will kick off at 2am BST on Tuesday, 16th May.
How to watch Iran vs New Zealand?
Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the Iran vs New Zealand match live on BBC One.
Read Also – 10 of the most unforgettable FIFA World Cup moments
See More – Iconic Performances: A teenage Pelé conquers the world
Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
