Iran
4-3-3 expected XI
Team Avg 6.83
Attack6.91
Midfield6.81
Defence6.75
GK6.87
Confidence 88% - projection model only. Player ratings will be replaced by verified post-match grades after full time.
Upcoming
Iran vs New Zealand — FIFA World Cup 2026
Iran
IRN
VS
New Zealand
NZL
June 25, 2026
16:00 ET
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
Capacity: 70,240
Iran arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 6 previous appearances, their best result being Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022). New Zealand have 2 appearances on football's biggest stage, with a best finish of Group stage (1982, 2010). Both sides qualified via AFC Group A winners and OFC-CONMEBOL play-off winners respectively. This is a rare inter-confederation clash: Iran of Asian Football Confederation against New Zealand of Oceania Football Confederation. Nations from different confederations meet infrequently outside World Cup tournaments.
Expected Lineups & Formation
Projected starting XIs, tactical shapes, and squad depth for Iran vs New Zealand.
Tactical Formation Diagram
Hover or tap an expected starter to open the full player profile and compare both tactical systems.
Iran 4-3-3 4-4-2 New Zealand
1 Alireza Beiranvand 
2 Sadegh Moharrami 
4 Shoja Khalilzadeh 
5 Milad Mohammadi 
3 Ehsan Hajsafi 
6 Saeid Ezatolahi 
8 Ahmad Nourollahi 
10 Alireza Jahanbakhsh 
9 Mehdi Taremi 
7 Mohammad Mohebi 
11 Karim Ansarifard 
1 Stefan Marinovic 
2 Nando Pijnaker 
5 Michael Boxall 
3 Bill Tuiloma 
4 Storm Roux 
6 Joe Bell 
8 Marko Stamenic 
10 Chris Wood 
7 Matthew Garbett 
9 Ben Waine 
11 Eli Just Iran (4-3-3)
New Zealand (4-4-2)
Iran
4-3-3 · Coach: Amir Ghalenoei · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
New Zealand
4-4-2 · Coach: Darren Bazeley · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
Iran vs New Zealand — Historic Context & Meeting Record
World Cup pedigree, confederation background, and what this fixture means for both nations.
Iran lead the all-time series 1-1-0 across 2 senior international meetings.
| Date | Competition | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1973 | Friendly | Auckland, New Zealand | New Zealand 0–0 Iran |
| 12 Oct 2003 | Friendly | Tehran, Iran | Iran 3–0 New Zealand |
Iran
ConfederationAsian Football Confederation
World Cup Apps6
Best ResultGroup stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
QualificationAFC Group A winners
New Zealand
ConfederationOceania Football Confederation
World Cup Apps2
Best ResultGroup stage (1982, 2010)
QualificationOFC-CONMEBOL play-off winners
📍 Venue Fact Sheet — SoFi Stadium
Opened2020
SurfaceArtificial turf
Capacity70,240
ArchitectHKS, Inc.
WC 2026 Matches6
Notable EventsSuper Bowl LVI (2022), 2028 Summer Olympics ceremonies
Notable Matches at This Venue
| Year | Competition | Teams | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Super Bowl LVI | LA Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals | LA Rams 23–20 Cincinnati |
| 2026 | FIFA World Cup | 6 matches scheduled | TBC |
Team Form & Recent Outings
How Iran and New Zealand arrive at the World Cup based on their last five competitive fixtures.
Iran
WDDLW
2W 2D 1L · 8 GF · 2 GA · 4 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-31
W 5-0
31 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Costa Rica (N)
L 1-2
27 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Nigeria (N)
D 0-0
18 Nov 2025 · Al Ain International Cup · vs Uzbekistan (N)
D 0-0
13 Nov 2025 · Al Ain International Cup · vs Cape Verde (N)
W 2-0
14 Oct 2025 · Friendly · vs Tanzania (N)
New Zealand
DLLLW
1W 1D 3L · 6 GF · 8 GA · 0 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-30
W 4-1
30 Mar 2026 · FIFA Series · vs Chile (H)
L 0-2
27 Mar 2026 · FIFA Series · vs Finland (H)
L 0-2
18 Nov 2025 · Friendly · vs Ecuador (N)
L 1-2
15 Nov 2025 · Friendly · vs Colombia (N)
D 1-1
14 Oct 2025 · Friendly · vs Norway (A)
Key Players to Watch
Six individuals who could decide the outcome of Iran vs New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Iran
Player to Watch
Mehdi Taremi
76 caps · 1 goals
Most carries into opposition box
Mehdi Taremi has been instrumental in Iran's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Karim Ansarifard
38 caps · 13 goals
Key press trigger in high block system
A mainstay of the Iran national team with over 26 caps, Karim Ansarifard brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Allahyar Sayyadmanesh
13 caps · 28 goals
Set-piece specialist — 8 direct free-kick goals
Allahyar Sayyadmanesh has been instrumental in Iran's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
New Zealand
Player to Watch
Chris Wood
50 caps · 30 goals
Most interceptions per 90 in squad
A mainstay of the New Zealand national team with over 20 caps, Chris Wood brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Ben Waine
37 caps · 27 goals
Top scorer in qualifying campaign
Ben Waine has been instrumental in New Zealand's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Kosta Barbarouses
51 caps · 16 goals
Leads squad in chances created
Kosta Barbarouses is enjoying a career-best season at Wellington, translating club form into international impact. Darren Bazeley relies heavily on their creativity in the final third to maintain New Zealand's competitive edge.
Tactical Analysis
A deep dive into how Amir Ghalenoei and Darren Bazeley will set their sides up tactically for this FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage clash.
Iran — 4-3-3
System Overview
A balanced system with width from full-backs and a single pivot shielding the back four.
Attacking Patterns
Iran's set-piece threat is significant — they scored 12 goals from corners and free-kicks in qualifying.
Defensive Shape
New Zealand uses a high press triggered by opposition goalkeeper touches, forcing long clearances.
New Zealand — 4-4-2
System Overview
A classic flat midfield that prioritises verticality through central channels.
Attacking Patterns
Iran favours quick transitions within 5 seconds of winning possession — a direct counter-attacking style.
Defensive Shape
Iran drops into a mid-block when leading, compressing vertical space between the lines.
Key Tactical Battle to Watch
The decisive tactical battle will be Iran's three-man defence against New Zealand's wide attacking threats. If Amir Ghalenoei can neutralise New Zealand's primary creator in central zones, Iran should control the tempo.
Match Prediction & AI Forecast
Data-driven outlook for Iran vs New Zealand based on squad depth, recent form, and historical head-to-head trends.
AI Forecast
FavouriteNew Zealand
Confidence68%
Likely Scorelines1-2 · 0-1 · 1-3
Factors for Iran
- New Zealand enter with superior recent form and tactical cohesion
- New Zealand's pressing intensity could exploit Iran's transitional vulnerabilities
Factors for New Zealand
- Iran will enjoy vocal home support at Iran's home continent
- Iran have historically raised performance levels in World Cup openers
This forecast is generated by an editorial AI model using squad-depth heuristics and confederation strength indices. It is not a betting tip.
This AI-generated forecast is for entertainment and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute betting advice. Always gamble responsibly.
Tickets & Pricing
Secure your seat for Iran vs New Zealand at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles on June 25, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions — Iran vs New Zealand
Who is playing in Iran vs New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Iran face New Zealand on June 25, 2026 at SoFi Stadium. The match features Iran's 4-3-3 system under head coach Amir Ghalenoei against New Zealand's 4-4-2 shape managed by Darren Bazeley.
What time does Iran vs New Zealand kick off?
Kick-off is scheduled for the local match time shown above. Check your local broadcaster for timezone conversion. FIFA recommends arriving at the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off.
Where is Iran vs New Zealand being played?
The match takes place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, USA. The stadium has a capacity of 70,240 spectators.
How to buy FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets for Iran vs New Zealand?
Tickets are available through the official FIFA Ticketing portal at fifa.com/tickets. Categories range from $60 (Category 3) to $450+ (Hospitality). Create a FIFA ID and select your preferred seating tier during the sales phase.
What formation will Iran and New Zealand use?
Iran typically line up in a 4-3-3 formation under Amir Ghalenoei, while New Zealand favour a 4-4-2 system with Darren Bazeley. Expected lineups are listed in the team sheets above.
Who are the key players to watch in Iran vs New Zealand?
For Iran, watch Alireza Beiranvand in attack. For New Zealand, Stefan Marinovic leads the line. Both teams rely on experienced midfield engines to control tempo.
What TV channel is broadcasting Iran vs New Zealand?
Broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are held by Fox Sports (USA), TelevisaUnivision (Mexico), TSN (Canada), BBC/ITV (UK), ARD/ZDF (Germany), and beIN Sports (Middle East). Check your local listings for the exact channel in your territory.
Has Iran ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
Iran have reached the knockout rounds in some tournaments, with their best ever finish being Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022).
Has New Zealand ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
New Zealand have reached the knockout rounds in some tournaments, with their best ever finish being Group stage (1982, 2010).
All tickets are sold through the official FIFA Ticketing Portal. Create a FIFA ID to purchase Category 1–3 or Hospitality packages. Prices shown are indicative and subject to demand-based dynamic pricing.