Iran Battle Through Adversity to Draw 2-2 with New Zealand

Iran fought back from two goals down to draw their World Cup opener 2-2 with New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Tuesday morning, a result made all the more significant by the turmoil the team had to overcome just to reach the tournament.

Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi were the scorers for Iran, while Eli Just netted twice for the All Whites in a game that swung back and forth.

The build-up to this match had been anything but normal for Iran. The team's place at the World Cup had been in doubt since the country went to war with the United States and Israel in February, and Iran were forced to relocate their training base from the United States to Mexico because of visa complications. On top of that, 11 members of the squad's non-playing staff were barred from entering the United States for the team's matches.

The political backdrop spilled into the stadium itself. Despite FIFA's efforts to keep them out of World Cup venues, several fans waved Lion and Sun flags, the emblem used by Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, while members of the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles could be heard booing the national anthem. Even so, the majority of the crowd got behind the team once the action started.

New Zealand made the better start and took an early lead in the seventh minute. Chris Wood held the ball up well before linking with Elijah Just, who finished smartly with a volley past goalkeeper Alireza Behranvand.

Iran responded well, with captain Mehdi Taremi striking the post after charging forward from inside his own half. The equalizer arrived in the 32nd minute in scrappy fashion. New Zealand defender Finn Surman blocked a shot from Shahriyar Moghanloo, but the loose ball fell to Rezaeian, who had continued his run expecting a quick one-two, and he poked it home.

New Zealand restored their lead early in the second half when Just completed a slick team move to make it 2-1. But Iran would not go away, drawing level again when Rezaeian whipped in a cross from the right and Mohebbi headed it in off the inside of the post.

Chances came at both ends in the closing stages as each side searched for a winner, but neither could find one, and the points were shared.