LOS ANGELES: Iran vs New Zealand produced one of the most entertaining matches of the World Cup so far, with Iran fighting back twice to secure a 2-2 draw in their opening Group G encounter at SoFi Stadium on Monday.
The match attracted significant attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation in the tournament following tensions in the Middle East. In front of a crowd of more than 70,000 spectators, Iran showed resilience to earn a valuable point.
New Zealand took the lead through Elijah Just, who scored once in each half and appeared set to guide his team to a historic first World Cup victory.
Iran responded strongly on both occasions. Ramin Rezaeian scored the equaliser after New Zealand’s first goal, while Mohammad Mohebbi found the net later in the match to rescue a point for the Iranian side.
Before kick-off, much of the focus had been on Iran’s logistical challenges. The team originally planned to base itself in Tucson, Arizona, but later moved its training camp to Tijuana, Mexico, amid ongoing visa-related issues with the United States. Several members of the Iranian delegation were reportedly denied entry visas by US authorities.
Elsewhere at the World Cup, European champions Spain were held to a surprising 0-0 draw by tournament newcomers Cape Verde. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Spain failed to break down a disciplined Cape Verde defence.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha celebrated the result, describing it as a dream moment for his country after earning a point against one of football’s strongest nations.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente remained confident despite the setback and insisted his team still has plenty of time to progress in the tournament.
In another Group G match, Belgium salvaged a 1-1 draw against Egypt. Egypt took the lead through Emam Ashour, but Belgium levelled after pressure from substitute Romelu Lukaku forced an own goal by Mohamed Hany.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay also shared the points in Group H. Abdulelah Al-Amri gave Saudi Arabia the lead before Maxi Araujo scored late to secure a 1-1 draw for the two-time World Cup winners.