IRAN, NEW ZEALAND PLAY TO 2‑2 DRAW IN WORLD CUP OPENER

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Interstat) — Eli Just scored twice as New Zealand rallied to draw Iran 2-2 on Monday in a World Cup group stage match at SoFi Stadium. Just, a substitute, opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a right-footed shot. Ramin Rezaeian equalized for Iran in the 32nd minute, also with a right-footed strike. Just put New Zealand ahead again in the 55th minute with another right-footed goal before Mohammad Mohebbi headed home the equalizer in the 64th minute off an assist from Ehsan Haji Safi. Haji Safi received a yellow card in the 89th minute. The result left both teams with a 0-0-1 record in World Cup competition. New Zealand improved to 2-0-1 across all competitions, while Iran dropped to 0-0-1. Iran next faces Belgium on Sunday, while New Zealand meets Egypt the same day.