World Cup Opener in the USA: Iran Fights Back to 2:2 Against New Zealand, Taremi Criticizes the Circumstances

Match Recap: Two Deficits, Two Responses

Iran started on the offensive but missed the early chance to equalize. In the 23rd minute, Mehdi Taremi ran from his own half all the way towards goal on his own, only to hit the post. Shortly afterwards, Saman Ghoddos failed to convert a lob from long distance over the empty net (28'). It was not until the 32nd minute that Iran finally found the equalizer: full-back Ramin Rezaeian initiated an attack himself and finished it off successfully.

Shortly after the break, New Zealand struck again. Once more it was Just, who completed his brace in the 54th minute and gave the underdogs hope of a first-ever win at a World Cup finals in their third appearance at the tournament. As with the first goal, Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest provided the assist.

Iran's response came promptly. In the 64th minute, Mohammad Mohebbi headed home a cross from Rezaeian via the inside of the post to make it 2:2. This meant the second Group G match also ended in a point shared, following Belgium's 1:1 draw with Egypt.

Taremi's Criticism of the Conditions

After the match, Taremi voiced sharp criticism of the tournament's conditions, calling it a "Desaster". "At a World Cup, you have to be able to prepare well for the next game," said the Olympiacos Piraeus striker, also taking an indirect swipe at world governing body FIFA. The captain explained that the Iranian team did not have its media team present and that parts of the staff were also missing. "Wir haben unser Medienteam nicht, wir haben unseren Verbandspräsidenten nicht, auch Teile vom Staff, die so wichtig sind für uns," Taremi complained.

The striker also took issue with the travel arrangements. The original plan had been to depart for Tijuana only after the match. "Und erst dann sollten wir nach Tijuana aufbrechen," Taremi described the original plan. For security and organizational reasons, the Iranian federation has based its World Cup quarters not in the USA but in Mexican Tijuana, located only a few kilometers from the border.

According to Taremi, FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally visited the Iranian team's dressing room after the match. "Natürlich will er uns helfen. Aber es geht auch um andere Dinge," the captain said. Taremi demanded: "Die FIFA könnte uns helfen."

Infantino Seeks Dialogue

Before the match, between 300 and 500 people had gathered peacefully in Inglewood to protest against the Iranian leadership. One sign read: "Die Fußballmannschaft der terroristischen Islamischen Republik vertritt nicht die Menschen im Iran". The mood among the protesters was described as peaceful.

Protests Before the Match

The match itself was summed up by the news agency reporting live as an "Aufwühlendes Remis". The live ticker carried the headline "Iran gleicht aus" and accompanied the game with current scores.

For Iran, the lineup included Beiranvand in goal, along with Rezaeian, Nemati, Khalilzadeh and Mohammadi in defence, as well as Mohebbi and Ghoddos (from the 65th) in midfield. The goals were scored by Just (7', 54') for New Zealand, and Rezaeian (32') and Mohebbi (64') for Iran.

The Iranian team departed the USA immediately after the opening match to prepare for their further group games in Tijuana. Iran's next fixture is in Group G, which also features Belgium and Egypt.

Other Results of the Matchday

In the other matches of the day, Uruguay were held to just a 1:1 draw by Saudi Arabia in Group H. This means the second favourites in this group, after Spain, have also made a stuttering start. Two-time world champions Uruguay had to settle for a 1:1 (0:0) in their opening match in Miami. Criticism of head coach Marcelo Bielsa is likely to grow in light of the weak performance.

Abdulelah Al-Amri had put Saudi Arabia ahead in the 41st minute, raising hopes of a second upset after their sensational 2022 World Cup victory against eventual champions Argentina. The referee for the match in Miami was also Ramos from Mexico.

In parallel, Evans had attracted attention in the run-up to the World Cup. He rejected the suspicion that he had intentionally sent a message with a gesture during the TV broadcast of the World Cup match between Germany and Curaçao (7:1). "Ich möchte klarstellen, dass ich weder absichtlich eine Handgeste noch ein Symbol verwendet habe, um irgendeine Botschaft, Zugehörigkeit, ein Spiel oder eine Überzeugung zu vermitteln," Evans was quoted as saying in a FIFA statement.