Iran
- Iran have won 6 of their last 10 games across all competitions, while New Zealand have won just 1 and lost 8 of the same.
- Iran have scored 10 goals in their last 3 matches, while New Zealand have conceded 5 in their last 2.
- They hammered Costa Rica 5-0 before beating Gambia 3-1 and Mali 2-0 in Friendly International Matches 2026.
New Zealand
- New Zealand have failed to win any of their last 7 away games, scoring just 2 goals and losing 6.
- They did manage a 4-1 win over a second-string Chile side last month, but their subsequent 4-0 defeat to Haiti and 1-0 loss to England have highlighted their attacking deficiencies.
Key Players
- Chris Wood remains their main threat, a big man who can also hold the ball up, and Liberato Cacace and Sarpreet Singh add width and creativity to this team.
- Mehdi Taremi, Iran's focal point and a player with great movement and finishing ability, is a threat to score here, having got 2 in his last 5 international appearances, and Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh also provide real quality in behind.
Betting Insights
So we're going with the favorites to prevail, and the price on them to do so looks about right given New Zealand's travel woes and lack of goals in recent away matches, taking Iran at 1.93 to win, under 2.5 goals at 1.65 and both teams not to score at 1.74 .
Prediction
- Iran should get their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign off to a winning start when they face a New Zealand side that has struggled on the road in recent months.
- But the experience and cohesion of the Iran squad, which has conceded just 3 goals in their last 6 home games in all competitions, should give them the edge in this Group G opener.
