By Chris Hood
New Zealand open their 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup campaign against Iran in Los Angeles.
Known as Team Melli — meaning National Team in Persian — Iran are one of Asia’s most consistent football nations and will be appearing at their seventh World Cup finals.
Here are 10 things you might want to know about them …
1. There is already history with the All Whites
New Zealand and Iran have met officially twice before.
The first meeting ended in a 1-1 draw in Auckland on August 12, 1973.
Iran won the second meeting 3-0 in Tehran in October 2003 in the AFC–OFC Challenge.
There have also been unofficial meetings involving Canterbury and a New Zealand representative side in the 1970s.
The Iran squad trains ahead of their World Cup opener against New Zealand.
2. Los Angeles could feel like a home game
The opening World Cup match will be played in Los Angeles.
Greater Los Angeles is home to one of the world’s largest Iranian communities outside Iran, with an estimated population of more than 200,000 Iranian Americans.
3. World Cup regulars still chasing history
Iran will play at their seventh FIFA World Cup and their fourth in succession.
Their best achievement remains reaching the group stage, with Team Melli still seeking a first appearance in the knockout rounds.
Iran missed qualification only once in recent decades, failing to reach the 1994 tournament.
4. Qualification built on consistency
Iran topped the final round of Asian qualifying ahead of Uzbekistan.
One unusual feature of the campaign was that they recorded four draws against Uzbekistan across qualification.
Iran generally played in a 4-2-3-1 formation but adjusted shape depending on opposition.
5. Asia’s long-time contenders
Iran have been among Asia’s strongest football nations for decades.
They won three straight Asian Cup titles in 1968, 1972 and 1976 and remain one of only a few countries to achieve three consecutive continental championships.
Despite regularly challenging at the top level, they have not lifted the Asian Cup since 1976.
Star player Mehdi Taremi.
6. Goals remain centred around Mehdi Taremi
Iran’s biggest attacking threat remains striker Mehdi Taremi.
The Olympiacos forward has scored more than 60 international goals and previously played club football for Inter Milan and Porto.
Iran will be without regular strike partner Sardar Azmoun, who was omitted from the World Cup squad.
7. Experience throughout the squad
Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand famously saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at the 2018 World Cup.
Defender Ehsan Hajsafi has more than 140 caps and has appeared at three World Cups.
Midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi has played club football in England, Denmark and the Middle East.
8. English Premier League links
Five Iranian internationals have played in the English Premier League.
They are Karim Bagheri (Charlton Athletic), Andranik Teymourian (Bolton, Fulham), Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Brighton) and Saman Ghoddos (Brentford).
Bagheri’s international record stands out — the defensive midfielder scored 50 goals in 87 matches for Iran.
9. Great names from the past
Iran have produced some of Asia’s most celebrated footballers.
Ali Daei scored 108 goals in 148 internationals and for many years held the world record for international goals.
Other greats include Ali Karimi, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ali Parvin and Javad Nekounam, Iran’s record appearance holder.
Many New Zealand fans may also remember Khodadad Azizi, whose goal against Australia in 1997 helped send Iran to the World Cup.
10. In the dugout
Amir Ghalenoei leads Iran into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 62-year-old is only the third Iranian coach to take charge of the national team at a World Cup.
Before him, Jalal Talebi coached Iran in 1998 and Heshmat Mohajerani led the team at the 1978 finals.
Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz, well known for his time with Manchester United and multiple spells with Iran, coached Team Melli at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
New Zealand
Shirt number/player/caps/goals/club
Goalkeepers
1. Max Crocombe (24/0) Millwall, England
12. Alex Paulsen (6/0) Lechia Gdańsk, Poland, on loan from Bournemouth, England
22. Michael Woud (6/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand
Defenders
4. Tyler Bindon (25/1) Nottingham Forest, England
5. Michael Boxall (63/1) Minnesota United, United States
13. Liberato Cacace (37/1) Wrexham AFC, Wales
3. Francis de Vries (19/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand
24. Callan Elliot (11/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand
2. Tim Payne (52/3) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
15. Nando Pijnaker (25/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand
26. Tommy Smith (56/2) Braintree Town, England
16. Finn Surman (19/2) Portland Timbers, United States
Midfielders
25. Lachlan Bayliss (4/0) Newcastle Jets, Australia
6. Joe Bell (32/1) Viking FK, Norway
7. Matt Garbett (38/5) Peterborough United, England
19. Ben Old (23/2) Saint-Étienne, France
14. Alex Rufer (26/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
10. Sarpreet Singh (28/3) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
8. Marko Stamenić (39/3) Swansea City, Wales
23. Ryan Thomas (25/3) PEC Zwolle, The Netherlands
Forwards
17. Kosta Barbarouses (76/10) Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia
11. Eli Just (44/9) Motherwell FC, Scotland
20. Callum McCowatt (32/4) Silkeborg, Denmark
21. Jesse Randall (11/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand
18. Ben Waine (31/9) Port Vale, England
9. Chris Wood (captain) (90/45) Nottingham Forest, England
Head coach
Darren Bazeley
Iran
Goalkeepers
Alireza Beiranvand — Tractor (Iran)
Hossein Hosseini — Sepahan (Iran)
Payam Niazmand — Persepolis (Iran)
Defenders
Danial Eiri — Malavan (Iran)
Ehsan Hajsafi — Sepahan (Iran)
Hossein Kanaani — Persepolis (Iran)
Shoja Khalilzadeh — Tractor (Iran)
Milad Mohammadi — Persepolis (Iran)
Ali Nemati — Foolad (Iran)
Ramin Rezaeian — Foolad (Iran)
Saleh Hardani — Esteghlal (Iran)
Midfielders
Rouzbeh Cheshmi — Esteghlal (Iran)
Saeid Ezatolahi — Shabab Al Ahli (United Arab Emirates)
Mehdi Ghaedi — Kalba (United Arab Emirates)
Saman Ghoddos — Kalba (United Arab Emirates)
Mohammad Ghorbani — Al Wahda (United Arab Emirates)
Alireza Jahanbakhsh — Heerenveen (Netherlands)
Mohammad Mohebi — Rostov (Russia)
Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia — Esteghlal (Iran)
Mehdi Torabi — Tractor (Iran)
Aria Yousefi — Sepahan (Iran)
Forwards
Ali Alipour — Persepolis (Iran)
Dennis Dargahi — Standard Liège (Belgium)
Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh — Tractor (Iran)
Shahriar Moghanlou — Ittihad Kalba (United Arab Emirates)
Mehdi Taremi — Olympiacos (Greece)
Head coach
Amir Ghalenoei
Fixtures – FIFA Men’s World Cup
Game to be played on Tuesday June 16, 2026 (NZT)
Iran v New Zealand
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Los Angeles, 1pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Monday June 22, 2026 (NZT)
Egypt v New Zealand
BC Place, Vancouver, 1pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Saturday June 27, 2026 (NZT)
Belgium v New Zealand
BC Place, Vancouver, 3pm (NZT)
Chris Hood
Chris Hood is a Blenheim-based long-time follower of football.
This story was published on June 14, 2026