As the World Cup approaches, New Zealand has experienced a more stable buildup, with attention focusing on their relatively unknown player, Tim Payne. The defender has gained a significant following on social media, amassing over 5.7 million Instagram followers. Fans are eager to celebrate the ‘Tim Payne party’ or explore the reasons behind his newfound fame.
In contrast, the Iranian players and coaching staff have faced a tumultuous buildup to the tournament. Their captain, Mehdi Taremi, expressed that the surrounding controversy undermines FIFA’s message of peace. He admitted to feeling the strain leading up to their arrival in Los Angeles, particularly just hours before a peace agreement was announced. This marks a historic moment as it’s the first time a host nation has welcomed a country it is in conflict with.
Alexander Abnos, the Guardian’s senior sports editor in the U.S., reports on the situation in Los Angeles…
Outside Los Angeles Stadium, protests were visible, although not particularly disruptive. On the west side, a vocal protester with a megaphone accused the Iranian team of representing IRGC terrorists, chanting slogans in Farsi. It was noted that around 200 demonstrators gathered on the east side.
The Iranian squad has received enthusiastic support from Mexican fans in Tijuana, following their relocation from Tucson due to concerns over U.S. visa issues. This support has translated to Los Angeles Stadium, where numerous attendees donned green Mexico jerseys, passionately cheering for Iran. In the northern section of the stadium, a group displayed a banner that read, “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).
The All Whites’ lineup features: 1 Max Crocombe (gk); 13 Liberato Cacace, 16 Finn Surman, 5 Michael Boxall, 2 Tim Payne; 6 Joe Bell, 8 Marko Stamenić; 11 Eli Just, 10 Sarpreet Singh, 20 Callum McCowatt; 9 Chris Wood (c).
Captain Chris Wood will spearhead the team in their third World Cup appearance. New Zealand is anticipated to adopt a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation, relying on the speed of Just, Singh, and McCowatt to create scoring opportunities. Crocombe is slated to start as goalkeeper in place of Alex Paulsen.
Team Melli’s expected lineup includes: 1 Alireza Beiranvand (gk); 23 Ramin Rezaeian, 19 Ali Nemati, 4 Shoja Khalilzadeh, 5 Milad Mohammadi, 6 Saeid Ezatolahi, 14 Saman Ghoddos, 17 Aria Yousefi; 9 Mehdi Taremi (c), 8 Mohammad Mohebi, 20 Shahriar Moghanloo.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei has been straightforward about his intended formation, likely setting up in a 4-4-2. Taremi stands as the central figure in attack, supported by Shahriar Moghanloo, who has recently joined the squad.
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Asian teams have now gone five matches without a loss in this World Cup following the draw between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. Jonathan Wilson questioned whether this signals a rise in Asian football’s prominence, with Iran looking to bolster this narrative against New Zealand.
AFC teams have in the past perhaps been guilty of lacking belief against UEFA sides, but no longer. Japan celebrated the equaliser as any side that has snatched a draw should, but the disappointment when they fell behind was clear. First and second in this group play second and first in the Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti group. It’s an indication of how far both Morocco and Japan have come that it’s not at all clear that it would be easier to face them than Brazil or the Netherlands.
Saudi Arabia managed to hold on for a 1-1 draw against Uruguay in their Group H match in Miami, despite a late onslaught from the South American team.
In a bizarre twist, Australian video assistant referee Shaun Evans has been cleared by FIFA after accusations of making a hand gesture linked to white supremacist groups. An investigation found no evidence of a breach of FIFA’s ethics code, and Evans stated that he was unaware of making the controversial sign:
The only explanation I can offer is that the movement was an involuntary, subconscious twitch and I was unaware I had done it at the time.
In Miami, the closing moments of the Group H match saw Uruguay equalize with just ten minutes remaining, following a sustained barrage against the Saudi goal.
The All Whites, competing as New Zealand, are participating in their third World Cup, having secured the sole qualifying spot from the Oceania region. Since their last appearance in 2010, New Zealand has transitioned from amateur to professional status, fostering belief that they have the potential to advance to the knockout stages for the first time.
However, this is a daunting challenge. New Zealand, ranked 85th and the lowest of the qualifiers, faces formidable opponents in Belgium (9th), Egypt (29th), and Iran (21st) in Group G. Renowned commentator Paul Ifill remarked 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 competed in South Africa, where they left unbeaten with three draws. Following the squad announcement, coach Darren Bazeley acknowledged the team’s positive position: “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 remaining players from the last World Cup campaign, holds significant importance, especially regarding his fitness. The striker was a top scorer contender in the Premier League for the 2024-25 season but has faced a serious knee injury that sidelined him for several months.
“New Zealand will need to be able to defend without the ball and then figure out how to exploit opponents when we regain possession. A lot will depend on whether Wood is fully fit,”
For more information on New Zealand, check here…
Iran secured their World Cup qualification early, enjoying a smoother path compared to previous campaigns. However, their preparations have been fraught with challenges. Geopolitical tensions with the U.S. and Israel raised doubts about their ability to participate, given that all three group matches are hosted in the U.S. Coach Amir Ghalenoei and his staff have worked diligently to mitigate disruptions.
Despite this turmoil, Iran’s friendly matches in March against Nigeria and Costa Rica showcased their ambitions. In the first match against Nigeria, they adopted a 3-6-1 formation, which Ghalenoei labeled a “defensive plan B,” potentially for their match against Belgium. Conversely, in the Costa Rica game, a 4-4-2 formation was employed, indicating a tactical flexibility depending on their opponents. The primary formation remains 4-2-3-1, which was prevalent during qualifying.
Despite the distractions and ongoing controversies, Ghalenoei remains optimistic about his squad’s potential. “We’ve had many problems recently, but the players tried their best and made sacrifices. They worked diligently [through qualification] and sacrificed a lot, so it is my job to thank them. They can achieve something remarkable in the World Cup. They have the technical skill to make this a memorable tournament,” he stated.
Discover more about the Iranian football team beyond the headlines…
Welcome to live coverage of the World Cup clash between Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium. This match is one of the most anticipated in the group stage, featuring two teams yet to reach the knockout rounds in the tournament’s history.
The ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance has overshadowed preparations for this game and the tournament itself, raising questions about the Asian nation’s ability to compete in a country they are at odds with. Additionally, various disruptions have impacted the Iranian players and staff’s preparations, including ongoing visa issues and their training base relocation to Tijuana, Mexico, just weeks before the tournament.
On the field, Iran will be making their seventh World Cup appearance, yet they have yet to advance beyond the group stage. Only Scotland has participated in the tournament more times without progressing past the first round. Despite their historical struggles, Iran enters with strong momentum, having qualified with just one defeat in 16 matches and solidifying their preparations with three convincing victories.
In contrast, New Zealand has kept a lower profile and comes in as the lowest-ranked team at No. 85. This marks their third World Cup appearance, having made their debut in 1982 where they faced three losses. They returned in 2010, becoming the only side to leave South Africa unbeaten, drawing against reigning champions Italy, Slovakia, and Paraguay.
However, this record leaves New Zealand still in search of their first World Cup win. Under Darren Bazeley’s guidance, the team won all five qualifying matches, scoring 29 goals while conceding just one, capitalizing on Oceania’s guaranteed spot in this year’s tournament. Although their recent form has dipped, with Belgium and Egypt also in Group G, this could be a prime opportunity for the All Whites to secure a breakthrough victory.
Kick-off is set for 6 PM local time (PDT)/9 PM EDT/2 AM BST/11 AM AEST. For fans in the competing nations, kick-off will be at 4:30 AM IRST/1 PM NZST. Stay tuned for the line-ups and team news shortly. Feel free to reach out with any questions, thoughts, or predictions via email or find me on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get started!
