Iran v New Zealand

Live coverage of the opening match in Group G as Iran take on New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium.

Iran, appearing at their seventh World Cup, are looking to make it past the group stage for the first time. They return four years on from featuring at Qatar 2022, where they beat Wales 2-0 in between defeats to England and the United States. There had been uncertainty over Iran’s participation at the 2026 edition because of the war with the US and Israel, which began just over three months before the start of the tournament.

New Zealand make their return to the World Cup 16 years on from going unbeaten in 2010, though draws with Slovakia, Paraguay and Italy weren’t enough to make it past the group stage. Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood played in 2010, and much of the nation’s hopes will rest on their captain and record goalscorer this time around if they are to progress to the knockouts for the first time.