The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off its Group G action on June 15 when Iran meets New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff is set for 6:00 PM PT, and the betting markets have already made their feelings known: Iran is the -120 favorite, with New Zealand sitting at +340 to pull off the upset and a draw priced at +240.
This is the first time these two nations have met in a World Cup setting, making it a genuine inter-confederation clash between AFC and OFC football.
Iran’s qualifying pedigree vs. New Zealand’s World Cup drought
Iran earned its ticket to the tournament with one of the most dominant qualifying campaigns in Asia. Team Melli navigated the notoriously grueling AFC qualifying process with just a single loss.
New Zealand’s story is the polar opposite. The All Whites have never won a World Cup match. Their most famous result remains the 1-1 draw against Italy in 2010.
