Iran fans celebrate 2-2 World Cup draw with New Zealand in politically charged opener

Iran opened its seventh World Cup campaign by clawing back from behind twice, earning a 2-2 draw against New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The result, watched by 70,108 fans, was the kind of gritty, never-say-die performance that sends supporters into the streets.

And that’s exactly what happened. From Brooklyn restaurants to the avenues of Tehran, Iranian fans celebrated the point like it was a trophy. In a tournament where Group F also includes Belgium and Egypt, a draw against New Zealand is far from a disaster.

A tale of two comebacks

New Zealand struck first through Elijah Just, who found the net in the 7th minute. Iran’s response came through Ramin Rezaeian, who equalized in the 32nd minute to send the match into halftime level. Just scored again in the 54th minute, restoring New Zealand’s lead. Iran’s Mohammad Mohebbi pulled his side level in the 64th minute, and neither team could find a winner in the remaining stretch.

Iranian coach Amir Ghalenoei called it “the best match of the first round” but suggested his squad had squandered more chances than the scoreline reflected.

The road to Inglewood ran through Tijuana

Iran’s national team didn’t even train on US soil in the lead-up. The squad set up camp in Tijuana, Mexico, because of complicated diplomatic relations between the US and Iran and the visa headaches that come with them.

The political dimension wasn’t confined to training logistics. Inside SoFi Stadium, some spectators booed during Iran’s national anthem. Others displayed the lion-and-sun flag associated with Iran’s pre-revolutionary era. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar featured similar scenes, with players declining to sing the anthem in apparent solidarity with domestic protests.

What this means for the group and the fans

Both Iran and New Zealand collected a point from the draw in a group that features Belgium and Egypt. In Brooklyn, where a significant Iranian diaspora community watches matches in packed restaurants, the draw was greeted with celebration. On the streets of Tehran, celebrations broke out as well.

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