Iran vs New Zealand LIVE: Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G TV stream, score, commentary & updates

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Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

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'It's all about football when you're on the pitch'

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

New Zealand

New Zealand attacker Sarpreet Singh, speaking before tonight's match: "Obviously there's a lot of things going on, I guess in their [Iran's] heads as well. But once you take the pitch, it's all about football, and that's what they'll focus on. That's what we'll focus on.

"It's about them doing the best for their country and us doing the best for us. So they'll be there ready to play and they'll give everything. And we have to be ready for that. We have to match it and better it to be able to get a result.”

'Football should unite'

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

Shaimaa Khalil

LA Correspondent at Los Angeles Stadium

Despite the tension between his native and adopted countries, Iranian American Mostafa Pourmand says football should unite the two nations.

He spoke of unity as a few hundred other Iranian Americans protested across the street from the Los Angeles Stadium.

"Soccer is all about friendship, making cultural connections and putting all the politics aside," he said on his way into the stadium.

A San Diego resident, Pourmand went over the border to Iran's training camp in Tijuana, Mexico and also watched them at the past two World Cups in Qatar and Russia.

Dressed head to toe in the colors of Iran’s flag - including within green and white trainers with red laces - Pourmand said the Iranian players are not political.

"The people of Iran are represented by these players and they are here to show we are worthy of being here," he said. "A message of friendship and human values."

Fellow Iranian American Elika Rad said she feels torn supporting Iran but is able to “separate the regime from the team”

Rad says she always watched the World Cup with her father who passed away in 2020 and she wanted to attend the match today in honour of him.

“I felt compelled to come watch the game in honour of my dad and in honor of all the Iranians out there who just want world peace and to be able to live their life and enjoy a game like this,” she said.

What can we expect from New Zealand?

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

The lowest-ranked team at the 2026 World Cup cruised through qualifying, beating New Caledonia (ranked 151st in the world) 3-0 in the Oceania final.

The All Whites are a big fish in a small OFC pond, and a shift of mindset is required for their first World Cup finals in 16 years.

Having dominated possession against Oceania's minnows, they've adopted a more defensive approach in recent friendlies, recognising their limitations while still looking dangerous on the break.

Their fit-again captain, Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, is likely to play a pivotal role. Wood is one of only two players in the squad with World Cup experience, the other being 36-year-old defender Tommy Smith, who was relegated from the National League with Braintree Town this season.

New Zealand's regular 4-2-3-1 formation literally plays to its strength, allowing key man Chris Wood to lead the line. The All Whites' record scorer found the net nine times in five matches in qualifying and his 92 Premier League goals are proof that he can be a match for any defence.

Being on the other side of the world, it's tricky getting your best players together for international friendlies. New Zealand's first eleven looks good on paper but may take time to gel. There's also a question mark over their defence which was rarely tested in qualifying.

From Annan Athletic to the World Cup: The Scot playing for New Zealand

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

Giancarlo Rinaldi

South Scotland reporter

Every footballing parent puts in the miles to watch their child play but Steve and Susan Elliot can probably trump most of them.

Their son, Callan, first started kicking a ball with Annan Athletic - currently in Scottish League 2 - at their Galabank ground.

Since the family moved to New Zealand when he was just seven, he has risen through the ranks and is now in the squad for his new homeland at the World Cup.

His parents have travelled about 6,500 miles (10,500km) to watch their opening game against Iran at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Dad Steve said it would be quite something to see his boy set foot on the game's biggest stage, although Callan starts on the bench.

"It's not easy to put into words how both his mum and I feel - proud, amazed, a football parent's dream," he said.

"It's truly surreal - so looking forward to this."

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The Braintree Town defender back on the big stage

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

Braintree Town defender Tommy Smith is looking forward to the "crowning glory of his career" as he prepares to participate in his second World Cup, 16 years on from playing for New Zealand in South Africa in 2010.

The 36-year-old former Ipswich Town and Colchester United, whose club side were relegated from the fifth-tier National League last season, has been selected in the All Whites' 26-man squad by head coach Darren Bazeley.

Smith, who is among the substitutes, was born in Macclesfield but spent much of his youth living in New Zealand and is ready to test himself once again against the world's best.

"I'm 36 years old now, and realistically this is not going to happen again for me as a player, so, I'm just trying to embrace every moment, enjoy it, contribute as much as I possibly can, and enjoy the whole experience," Smith told BBC Radio Essex.

"I grew up in New Zealand and the connection you feel to the place if you've lived there is a special one and it's something that I've never taken for granted.

"There's been times in the past where it wasn't as powerful as it is now, the pull to come and play for New Zealand.

"Under the regime and the previous regime, they've really made it a special environment to come into which makes everyone want to turn up every single time and give it their absolute best."

Wood winner - Sutton's prediction

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

Chris Sutton

Former England forward on BBC Radio 5 Live

I read an amazing stat about New Zealand, which is that they only have around 60 professional footballers across the world.

As a nation, just by getting to this World Cup they are punching well above their weight, and it would be massive for them to get their first win in their third finals.

They have got some decent players, too, like 'the Wood-chopper' Chris Wood up top and their playmaker, Sarpreet Singh, and I am also looking forward to seeing Motherwell midfielder Elijah Just, who is a good footballer.

They are up against an Iran team with a lot of off-field issues, and won't even be based in the United States where they play their three group games, but in Mexico.

A lot of their players play in the Persian Gulf League, which has been suspended since March, and they are an ageing squad anyway.

So, it won't be easy for them and I am going to back 'the Wood-chopper' to get the winner.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read all the predictions from the group phase.

LA’s unique canopy

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

Tom McCoy

BBC Sport journalist

The ultra-modern stadium in Los Angeles is the first to host multiple games at this World Cup, having also staged the USA’s thumping win against Paraguay three days ago.

While four venues at this tournament have retractable roofs, this stadium and an adjacent plaza are instead shielded by a giant translucent canopy. It spans over 90,000 square metres and is supported by 37 columns but is open at three sides to let in fresh air.

The stadium opened in 2020 at a reported cost of $5.5bn, which would make it the most expensive sporting venue ever built. It is home to LA's two NFL franchises, the Rams and Chargers. The Rams won the Super Bowl there in 2022, becoming just the second team to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy in their own stadium.

What can we expect from Iran?

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

National icon Mehdi Taremi is a reliable source of goals and will also link the play. Much rests on his shoulders, although they will hope to profit from having plenty of height in the team when it comes to attacking set-pieces.

A small clutch of players have top-five European league experience.

But domestic players haven't played league football since it was suspended in March due to the conflict.

It's an ageing squad (only Panama's is older) with lingering defensive issues.

Outside noise could distract, while – perhaps inevitably among a group of 26 – the squad is by no means of one mind on political matters.

New Zealand - Which players should we look out for?

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

Right back Tim Payne experienced social media fame when an Argentine influencer decided he was the least-known footballer at this World Cup, and urged people to give him support. Within days Payne's Instagram account had five million followers.

Chris Wood has a mere 163k followers but is their record scorer and a threat to any defence. The Nottingham Forest striker had knee surgery in December and his fitness will be managed carefully.

Wide midfielder Elijah Just lit up the Scottish Premiership this season with Motherwell and was shortlisted for PFA Scotland's Premiership Player of the Year award. His form has led to transfer rumours but he says he won't be distracted by 'outside noise'.

How NZ defender Tim Payne unexpectedly became a big name

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

As the lowest-ranked side at the 2026 World Cup, New Zealand are hoping to defy expectations. A 4-0 warm-up defeat to Haiti, just two places above them in the Fifa world rankings at 83 (as of 4 June), suggests they will struggle to do so.

It was a defeat that left their English head coach, Darren Bazeley, shell-shocked: "It's a very harsh lesson for us," he said. Just weeks earlier he had been talking about making history and reaching the knockout stage for the first time.

Of course, they still might; New Zealand do have have an inspirational captain in Chris Wood, who was their top scorer in qualifying and has scored 92 Premier League goals against considerably tougher opposition.

He is already the country's record goalscorer (45) and became the most capped All White (89) against Haiti, one of the few positives to come from that game.

Usually Wood's fitness would be the main talking point around the camp but, thanks to Tim Payne's new-found social media fame (five million Instagram followers and counting) the focus is elsewhere.

The 32-year-old Wellington Phoenix right back was identified as the World Cup's least-known footballer by an influencer, who wanted to get Tim Payne 'on everyone's lips.'

New Zealand looking for historic victory

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

New Zealand are looking to win their first match at a World Cup finals.

In 1982, they lost all three games - 5-2 against Scotland, 3-0 to the Soviet Union and 4-0 to Brazil.

Their only other qualification before this year came in 2010, with the All Whites remaining unbeaten, drawing with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay.

New Zealand finished above Italy, but still did not make it out of the group phase. In six games at the finals, New Zealand have only scored four goals.

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Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

Shaimaa Khalil

LA Correspondent at Los Angeles Stadium

The players reject that this is the team of the regime. At the press conference ahead of the match, Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi insisted that the team plays for all Iranians both at home and abroad and that they don’t get involved in politics.

Standing outside the stadium it's impossible to see how politics can be separated from this team’s presence here.

Time and time again the Iranian team officials have said they wanted to unite people through football, the mood here is anything but.

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Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

Shaimaa Khalil

LA Correspondent at Los Angeles Stadium

Most of the Iranian American crowds gathered outside the stadium are not here to support the team.

There about 200 protesters outside the stadium, gathered to express their anger at Fifa’s decision but mainly to decry the team and the regime they say it represents.

“Mulla’s team is not my team” echoed one chant. "Regime change in Iran", said another. The protesters then break into song. The pre-Islamic revolution national anthem.

When I ask one young man to translate for me, he smiles: "This means freedom and pride."

"We don’t want a deal," said Nini Taba referring to the latest agreement between Washington and Tehran. "The people of Iran deserve regime change. People were slaughtered on the streets of Tehran in January."

Farimah Atmaschi echoed this sentiment. “We can’t normalise what happened in January through a sporting event.” Wearing a T-shirt with the lion-and-sun flag, she added: "This team, they don’t represent the people of Iran."

'We can't do anything, we have to focus on football'

Iran v New Zealand (02:00 BST)

New Zealand

New Zealand attacker Sarpreet Singh, asked if his side could be at an advantage given the opposition's situation away from the pitch, said: "In life, everyone has their issues and their problems, and when it comes to the pitch, you have to put that to the side and do everything you can to win.

"We're focused on ourselves and we just need to be the best for ourselves and play what's in front of us. We can't do anything about what's going on, we just have to focus on football.”

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