Iran vs New Zealand: World Cup team news, start, lineups and where to watch
Key takeaways
- After uncertainty over their participation and a disrupted build-up, Iran are set to begin their World Cup campaign.
- The All Whites are back on the biggest stage in international football for the first time since 2010 and are seeking their first-ever win at a World Cup.
- Iran is playing at the World Cup whilst the country is at war with a host nation, a situation that is unique in the tournament’s 96-year history.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
After uncertainty over their participation and a disrupted build-up, Iran are set to begin their World Cup campaign.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Iran's key forward Mehdi Taremi takes part in a training session before their World Cup group match against New Zealand [Guillermo Arias/AFP]By Adam Hancock and Reuters Published On 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026Who: Iran vs New Zealand What: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match Where: Los Angeles Stadium, California, US When: Monday, 6pm local time (01:00 GMT on Tuesday) How to follow: Keep up with all updates on Al Jazeera Sport
Iran will finally take to the field for their World Cup opener on Monday after months of uncertainty surrounding their participation in the tournament and following the United States-Israeli attacks on their country that began in late February.