• Motherwell forward Elijah Just scored twice but Iran came from behind on both occasions to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in their Group G opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
• Ramin Rezaeian scored Iran’s first equalizer and assisted Mohammad Mohebbi’s headed second as Team Melli twice responded to falling behind.
• The result left all four teams in Group G level on one point after Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt earlier in the day.

Just’s Dream Double Not Enough as Iran Rally Twice in Politically Charged Opener

Iran twice came from behind to deny New Zealand a first World Cup victory, drawing 2-2 in a thrilling Group G opener played against an extraordinary political backdrop in Los Angeles. Elijah Just scored early in each half for the All Whites, but Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi replied for an Iranian side whose very participation in the tournament had been in doubt until the final weeks before kickoff.

The buildup to the match had been dominated by politics rather than football. The United States and Iran had been at war since February 28, and an agreement to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz was only announced on Sunday. Members of Iran’s staff had not been granted visas for the US, forcing Team Melli to move their training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. Iran flew into the country on the day before each match and returned to Mexico immediately afterward. Several hundred Iranian Americans protested outside SoFi Stadium before kickoff, and many fans from the diaspora jeered and turned their backs during the national anthem, though almost all appeared to support the Iranian players once the match began.

Once the whistle blew, the focus shifted firmly to football. New Zealand stunned the strong pro-Iranian crowd in the seventh minute when captain Chris Wood intercepted a goal kick and eventually forced the ball to Just. The Motherwell forward thumped home a half volley in traffic to give the lowest-ranked side in the tournament a dream start.

Iran, ranked 65 places above New Zealand at 20th in the world, responded with urgency. Mehdi Taremi came close to equalizing when he struck the post with a powerful drive from outside the box. The first-half hydration break then proved costly for the All Whites, as it has for several teams at this tournament, with Iran seizing the momentum in its aftermath. Rezaeian found himself in space on the right side of the penalty area in the 32nd minute and chipped a finish with the outside of his boot past Max Crocombe to level the score. Iran had a further goal ruled out for offside before the break as they threatened to take control.

New Zealand took time to regroup after halftime but Just produced another moment of quality in the 54th minute. Wood held up play superbly and found his strike partner with a deft touch, and Just lofted the ball over Alireza Beiranvand to restore the All Whites’ lead. The link-up between Wood and Just caused Iran problems throughout and Just’s two finishes were the reward for a performance full of creativity from a player whose seven goals and eight assists for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership had marked him as one to watch.

Iran would not be denied a second time. Rezaeian delivered a perfect long cross in the 64th minute that found Mohebbi at the back post, and the defender guided a header in off the inside of the post to make it 2-2. Both sides had chances to win it in the closing stages but neither could find a third goal.

Players from both teams embraced and shook hands after the final whistle, with at least one jersey swap taking place. While Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei sat alone in the dugout, his players gathered together and walked around the field applauding thousands of flag-waving, roaring fans.

Just was focused on what lies ahead despite his remarkable individual display. “One goal was nice, two was not something I could ever have dreamed of,” the 25-year-old said. “This team is really special but we know how tough our other opponents are. We have a lot of work to do.”

New Zealand matched their entire goal total from each of their two previous World Cup appearances in a single match, but the All Whites remain winless at the tournament across three editions. They qualified for their first World Cup since 2010 as the lowest-ranked team in the 48-nation field, seizing the first automatic qualifying berth for the Oceania Football Confederation after the expansion. Iran, making their seventh World Cup appearance and fourth in succession, have never advanced beyond the group stage. Both sides face tougher opponents in the remaining fixtures, with Iran meeting Belgium and New Zealand taking on Egypt on June 21.

• Virgil van Dijk has criticised the use of hydration breaks during World Cup matches played in comfortable conditions.
• The Netherlands captain suggested the stoppages disrupt the flow of games and television viewing.
• FIFA introduced mandatory hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup following concerns over extreme heat and player welfare.

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has questioned FIFA's decision to introduce mandatory hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup, suggesting the stoppages are unnecessary in matches where weather conditions do not warrant them.

The Liverpool defender made the comments after the Netherlands' 2-2 draw against Japan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a venue equipped with climate control systems and far removed from the extreme temperatures seen elsewhere during the tournament.

Asked for his thoughts on the breaks, Van Dijk indicated he was unconvinced by their widespread use.

"Hydration breaks are a bit interesting, because I was obviously watching almost all the games up until today, and every time going to commercial is a bit … Not really that I like it," Van Dijk said.

"I think for the neutral watchers on TV it's also not great. If it's really hot, obviously it would be good to put them in. But I think you have to look at it in every game, separately, in my opinion."

The 34-year-old then added: "But I think I've said enough already for that."

FIFA implemented three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every World Cup match after concerns emerged over player welfare during periods of extreme heat at last summer's expanded Club World Cup.

The policy has since generated debate across the tournament, with critics arguing the stoppages can disrupt momentum and create additional commercial opportunities for broadcasters.

Several television networks have opted to air advertisements during the breaks after FIFA approved the practice earlier this year.

The impact of the interruptions was also highlighted by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann following his side's 7-1 victory over Curaçao.

Nagelsmann revealed the first-half hydration break gave Germany an opportunity to adjust tactically after struggling against Curaçao's unusual midfield shape.

"Curacao played with a diamond today, and we adjusted how we attacked before the hydration break," Nagelsmann said.

"But even so, there were still two or three moments where it took a little while because, at the end of the day, you actually very rarely play against a diamond-shaped team these days.

"Very few teams do that anymore, and we needed a bit of time. The water break was actually good to simply reiterate what we had already adjusted on the board."

While FIFA continues to defend the measure as a player welfare initiative, Van Dijk's comments add to a growing conversation about whether hydration breaks should be applied universally or determined on a match-by-match basis.

With temperatures varying significantly across host cities during the World Cup, the debate over balancing player safety, match rhythm and broadcast considerations is likely to remain a talking point throughout the tournament.