As the World Cup draws near, Australian defender Kai Trewin has taken advantage of the buzz surrounding social media figures, while Cabo Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha captured attention with a standout performance against Spain. Following that match, his Instagram followers surged from 50,000 to over 4.1 million.
This article features content from Instagram. We request your permission before any content is loaded, as they may utilize cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has enjoyed a more consistent preparation for the World Cup, shifting focus to their emerging talent Tim Payne, who has amassed over 5.7 million Instagram followers. Join the Tim Payne movement or explore his newfound popularity.
The Iranian team, however, has encountered significant hurdles in the lead-up to the tournament. Captain Mehdi Taremi remarked that the controversies surrounding their involvement cast doubt on FIFA’s message of peace, emphasizing the tension they felt upon arriving in Los Angeles just hours after a peace agreement was announced. This marks the first instance in World Cup history where a host nation will welcome a country with which it is engaged in conflict.
Alexander Abnos, the senior sports editor in the US, provides insights on the Los Angeles situation…
Outside the Los Angeles Stadium, protests erupted, although they did not appear to substantially hinder the event. On one side of the venue, a man with a megaphone loudly declared that the Iranian team represents IRGC terrorists while calling for a free Iran, alongside other slogans in Farsi. A larger crowd, estimated at around 200 people, gathered on the east side.
The Iranian squad has gained substantial support from Mexican fans in Tijuana after relocating their training base due to concerns regarding US visa issues. This enthusiasm has carried over to Los Angeles Stadium, where many supporters donned green Mexico jerseys and cheered for Iran. A banner proclaiming “It’s a blend of exciting young talent and experienced players to maximise our chances of winning games and getting out of our group.” (We love you, Iran) was displayed by a group in the northern section of the stadium.
The All Whites’ lineup features: Max Crocombe (gk); Liberato Cacace, Finn Surman, Michael Boxall, Tim Payne; Joe Bell, Marko Stamenić; Eli Just, Sarpreet Singh, Callum McCowatt; Chris Wood (c).
Chris Wood will lead New Zealand in their third World Cup appearance. The anticipated formation is a more defensive 4-2-3-1, utilizing the speed of Just, Singh, and McCowatt. Crocombe has been selected as goalkeeper over Alex Paulsen.
Team Melli’s projected starters are: Alireza Beiranvand (gk); Ramin Rezaeian, Ali Nemati, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Milad Mohammadi, Saeid Ezatolahi, Saman Ghoddos, Aria Yousefi; Mehdi Taremi (c), Mohammad Mohebi, Shahriar Moghanloo.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei has chosen a straightforward 4-4-2 formation, positioning Taremi as the central figure alongside Shahriar Moghanloo, who has recently joined the squad.
This article includes content from Instagram. We ask for your permission before any content is loaded, as they may be utilizing cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
Asian teams have now gone five matches without a loss in this World Cup, following the draw between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. Jonathan Wilson speculated prior to the Miami match whether this could signify a rise in football power for the continent, as Iran aims to support this narrative against New Zealand.
AFC teams have historically struggled with self-belief against UEFA sides, but that is changing. Japan celebrated their equalizer as any team should when snatching a draw, yet the disappointment when they fell behind was evident. The first and second in this group play second and first in the Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti group. It underscores how far both Morocco and Japan have come that it’s unclear whether facing them would be easier than confronting Brazil or the Netherlands.
Saudi Arabia managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Uruguay in their Group H match in Miami. Despite Uruguay’s relentless pressure, they were unable to breach the Saudi defense.
In an unusual incident during this World Cup, Australian video assistant referee Shaun Evans was cleared by FIFA after being accused of making a hand gesture associated with white supremacist groups. An investigation found no evidence of any ethical violations, and he stated that he was unaware of making the controversial gesture:
The only explanation I can provide is that the movement was an involuntary, subconscious twitch and I had no knowledge that I had done it at the time.
The Group H clash in Miami saw Uruguay equalize just ten minutes before the end after applying significant pressure on the Saudi goal.
Nonetheless, this task remains formidable. As the lowest-ranked qualifiers at No 85, New Zealand faces tough competition from ninth-ranked Belgium, 29th-ranked Egypt, and 21st-ranked Iran in Group G. Commentator Paul Ifill noted that the current squad is “New Zealand will need to be able to defend without the ball and then work out how to hurt opponents when we get the ball back. A lot will depend on whether Wood is fully fit,” than the one that played in South Africa, where they finished without a defeat but with three draws. Following the squad announcement, coach Darren Bazeley expressed optimism: “We’ve had many problems recently, but the players tried their best and made sacrifices. They worked so hard [through qualification] and sacrificed a lot, so it is my job to thank them. They can do something epic in the World Cup. They can do it, they have the technical potential to make this a World Cup to remember.”
Chris Wood, the captain and one of the two survivors from the last campaign, will be crucial to their success. He was a leading contender for the Premier League’s top scorer title in the 2024-25 season, but a serious knee injury sidelined him for several months.
Ifill remarked, “New Zealand must defend effectively without the ball and capitalize on opportunities when they regain possession. Much hinges on Wood’s fitness.”
Learn more about the New Zealand team…
Iran was among the earliest teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and compared to past campaigns, their journey has been relatively smooth. Yet, their actual preparations for the tournament have been marred by complications. Ongoing tensions with the US and Israel raised concerns about their participation, especially with all their group matches scheduled in the US. Manager Amir Ghalenoei and his staff have been working tirelessly to minimize disruptions.
Despite the obstacles, Iran showcased their potential in two friendly matches in March against Nigeria and Costa Rica. In the initial match against Nigeria, they employed a 3-6-1 formation, which Ghalenoei labeled as the team’s “defensive plan B,” likely in anticipation of the matchup against Belgium. In the subsequent encounter against Costa Rica, a 4-4-2 formation was adopted, indicating a tactical adjustment based on their opponents. Their primary formation remains a 4-2-3-1, which Iran predominantly utilized during qualifying.
Amid the controversies surrounding the national team, which relocated their World Cup base from the US to Mexico shortly before the tournament, Ghalenoei remains hopeful about their prospects. “We’ve faced many challenges recently, but the players have put in tremendous effort and made sacrifices. They worked hard [through qualification] and sacrificed a lot, so it is my responsibility to thank them. They have the technical skills to create a memorable World Cup experience.”
Discover more about the Iranian football team beyond the headlines…
Welcome to live coverage of the World Cup match between Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium. This matchup is highly anticipated in the group stage, featuring two teams that have yet to advance past this phase in the tournament.
The tension stemming from Iran’s relations with the US and Israel has overshadowed the lead-up to this match and much of the tournament, raising doubts about whether the Asian nation would even be permitted to compete in a country with which it is in conflict. This adds to various disruptions that have affected the preparation of the Iranian players and staff, including visa issues and their temporary base in Tijuana, Mexico, while all three group stage matches are set to occur in the US.
Focusing on the pitch, Iran is competing in their seventh World Cup. However, they have consistently failed to progress beyond the group stage, with only Scotland attending the tournament more times without advancing. While Iran carries this historical burden alongside contemporary challenges, they also possess solid form, having navigated qualifying with just one defeat in 16 matches and preparing for the World Cup with three convincing victories.
In contrast, New Zealand has maintained a lower profile, entering the tournament as the lowest-ranked team at No 85. This marks their third World Cup appearance after debuting in 1982 and suffering three losses. They returned in 2010, finishing unbeaten by drawing with reigning champions Italy and also securing draws against Slovakia and Paraguay.
However, New Zealand is still searching for their first World Cup victory. Under coach Darren Bazeley, the team triumphed in all five qualifying matches, amassing an impressive 29 goals while conceding only once, making the most of Oceania’s guaranteed spot at this year’s tournament. Despite a recent dip in form, facing Belgium and Egypt in Group G presents a prime opportunity for the All Whites to achieve a historic win.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6 PM local time PDT / 9 PM EDT / 2 AM BST / 11 AM AEST. For those in the competing nations, kick-off is at 4:30 AM IRST / 1 PM NZST. I will return shortly with the line-ups and further team news. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with any questions, thoughts, or predictions. You can email me or connect on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get started!
