New Zealand hoping to fly high in the FIFA World Cup 2026; Iran ready to compete

Talking of Rugby, Cricket and field hockey, New Zealand will be right up there in most sports follower's estimates, but not so much in the case of football. It is said that the Southern Hemisphere country's football team has a band of followers called "The Flying Kiwis" and 500 of them would be travelling to the venues to give a big shout for their team which has qualified for the World Cup for the third time. Its previous entry was in South Africa in 2010 and before that in Spain in 1982.

Ranked 85 in the FIFA list, New Zealand can be put down as a no-hoper in Americas World Cup. It has qualified from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), a region that consists of lowly ranked teams. New Zealand was too superior for teams like Tahiti, Samoa and Vanuatu in the second stage and also Fiji In the semifinals and New Caledonia in the final. The OFC was allotted one direct entry and New Zealand got through it with its head high.

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Known as the "All Whites" , New Zealand scored 19 goals in the OFC round and ten goals in the semifinal and final. Its lead up to the finals has been a series of losses; it has lost nine, including a 4-0 rout by Haiti and 1-0 by England with Harry Kane being the goal getter. It will face Iran, Egypt and Belgium and no one is willing to give it a chance.

This suits well for New Zealand to be the underdog in each and every match. It's name to fame is because of the presence of Chris Wood who turns out for Nottingham Forest in England. Wood scored nine goals in the OFC qualifiers, Eli Just is another player who has made a mark and with a few more experienced players like Joe Bell who plays in Norway. New Zealand is hoping to spring a surprise. It will be a first scrap against Iran and Belgium and two years ago it lost to Egypt in a FIFA friendly.

Darren Bazeley is the manager of the team. A former English professional, Bazeley has not given much success for New Zealand with the numbers being 33 played, 13 won, 6 drawn and 14 lost. New Zealand has an injury related issue with Wood who has played 88 matches (32 won, 38 list and 18 drawn) for his country and scored 45 goals. In all he has played 26 World Cup qualifier matches and three World Cup matches.

Iran

For a number of reasons, primarily around the prevailing West Asia conflict situation and the unrest at home, Iran has been making headlines for the wrong reasons.

The FIFA paved the way for the country's participation and also scheduling all its three matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in California and Seattle. Qualifying as a topper from an Asia region group in which Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, North Korea and Kyrgyzstan were the contestants, Iran proceeded directly into the World Cup draw. In the six team group, Iran played ten, won seven, drew two and lost one (to Qatar) and scored 19 goals, but conceded eight.

After its World Cup finals qualification was confirmed in June last year, Iran has been actively taking part in Asia-centric tournaments and FIFA friendlies. It has played 12 matches, went through the grind, but won only four matches against Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Mali and Gambia (all in FIFA friendliest) and two against India and Afghanistan in the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) tournament. It lost 1-2 each to superior teams Russia and Nigeria.

Iran has been part of seven previous World Cups starting from 1998 and it has not been able to achieve a breakthrough to go past the Group stage. So, its primary aim will be to remain long in this World Cup in order to grab the global attention.

For nearly four years, the team has had to face difficult times, with some of the players being criticised for not supporting protesters at home for the cause of "Woman, Life, Freedom". The team did not sing the national anthem before the match against England at Qatar 2022; it did in the other two matches against Wales and the USA.

Iran's coach Amit Ghalenoei largely depends on Mehdi Taremi (102 national caps and 56 goals) Sardar Azmoun (91 national caps and 57 goals) and Saman Ghoddos who has played 67 international matches. Initially Ghoddos played two matches for Sweden in 2017 - against Ivory Coast and Uzbekistan. Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand has played 84 matches and he brings experience.

Known as "Team Melli", Iran's matches will attract eye balls as it takes the field at a time when events at home are far from a situation creating joy. Manager Ghalenoei is worried about the fitness of players who have not been able to play in the domestic league that has been stopped. Ghalenoei has said the aim would be advance to the round of 32 and 16.