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Iran and New Zealand begin their 2026 World Cup journeys on Monday night when the two sides clash at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California in their first Group G encounter.
Neither team has ever advanced past the group stage of a World Cup, but the expanded 48-team format—introducing new qualification pathways, including third-place advancement—gives both nations a fresh chance to finally break through that barrier.
Iran head into the game as the stronger team on paper. Team Melli sit 20th in the FIFA World Rankings—roughly 65 spots ahead of New Zealand—and arrive in solid form following a near-flawless qualifying campaign, dropping just one match across 16 games, along with positive results in recent friendly fixtures.
New Zealand, on the other hand, come into the tournament following an inconsistent preparation period, which included a 4–0 loss to Haiti and a 1–0 defeat to England in their most recent friendlies. As such, most indicators suggest Iran are the more likely of the two sides to make an early impression and potentially end their lengthy wait for a first-ever run beyond the group stage.
Here's how to catch the match live, no matter where you are in the world.
What Time Does Iran vs. New Zealand Kick Off?
How to Watch Iran vs. New Zealand on TV, Live Stream
US viewers can catch the action on Fox and fuboTV. Those looking for a Spanish-language broadcast can tune in via Telemundo.
Canadian viewers can follow the match through TSN or RDS, while audiences in Mexico can watch via ViX.
In the United Kingdom, those willing to stay up late can catch the game on BBC One.
Country | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
United States | Fox Sports 1, fuboTV., Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One, SiriusXM FC, Futbol de Primera Radio |
Canada | TSN+, TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, RDS, RDS App |
Mexico | ViX Mexico |
United Kingdom | BBC Sport Web, BBC One UK, BBC iPlayer |
What's Next for Iran, New Zealand?
After their opening fixture in California, both Iran and New Zealand will shift their focus to the remaining Group G matches on their schedule.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
Iran will next face Belgium at SoFi Stadium on June 21 in what should be a fascinating contest, before wrapping up their group stage campaign against Egypt in Seattle on June 27.
New Zealand, meanwhile, take on Egypt in Vancouver on June 22, before closing out their group stage schedule against Belgium, also in Vancouver, on June 27.
READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE
Barnaby Lane is a seasoned sports journalist who has contributed to The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of sitting down with some of the most prominent figures in global sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and many others.