Iran and New Zealand Set for Historic FIFA World Cup Clash
Iran vs New Zealand: A First-Time Encounter at the FIFA World Cup
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Los Angeles, June 15: Iran and New Zealand are gearing up for their inaugural meeting at the FIFA World Cup, with their Group G match scheduled for Tuesday at the Los Angeles Stadium.
Both teams showcased impressive performances during the qualification rounds, with Iran suffering just one defeat in a remarkable 16-match journey, marking their seventh appearance at the global tournament. Meanwhile, New Zealand achieved a perfect record in Oceania, winning all five of their matches, scoring 29 goals while conceding only once.
This will be Iran's seventh participation in the FIFA World Cup (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026), as they aim to advance to the knockout stage for the first time.
Conversely, New Zealand will be making their third World Cup appearance (1982, 2010, 2026). After a challenging debut in Spain in 1982, they returned to the tournament nearly 28 years later in South Africa in 2010.
Having successfully navigated the qualification process to secure the first direct slot available to the OFC, New Zealand is eager to make a mark in North America.
How to watch Iran vs New Zealand live in India
Fans in India can catch the live streaming and telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches on the Zee5 platform and app, requiring a subscription.
The live broadcast will also be available on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD channels.
Key details
Date and kick-off time: Tuesday, June 16, 9:30 AM (IST)
Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
Referee: Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh
Squads:
Iran-
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand, Hossein Hosseini, Payam Niazmand
Defenders: Daniyal Eiri, Ehsan Hajsafi, Saleh Hardani, Hossein Kanaani, Shojae Khalilzadeh, Milad Mohammadi, Ali Nemati, Ramin Rezaeian
Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Saeid Ezatolahi, Mehdi Ghayedi, Saman Ghoddos, Mohammad Ghorbani, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mohammad Mohebi, Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia, Mehdi Torabi, Aria Yousefi
Forwards: Ali Alipour, Dennis Dargahi, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, Shahriyar Moghanlou, Mehdi Taremi
New Zealand-
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud
Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Francis de Vries, Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman
Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Eli Just, Callum McCowatt, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Marko Stamenic, Sarpreet Singh, Ryan Thomas
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood, Logan Rogerson