Iran’s 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in the group stage after three draws in Group G left them just short of the knockout rounds. The Lions of Persia drew with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt between 15 and 26 June, finishing third in the group and missing out on the eight qualifying third-place spots.
This guide recaps all three Group G matches with final scores, venues and dates, and explains how Iran’s elimination was confirmed.
The Iran national team at the 2026 World Cup
Iran arrived at the 2026 World Cup ranked 21st in the world by FIFA as of April 2026, one of Asia’s most consistent qualifiers. Their group-stage exit means the team has now reached the World Cup finals seven times without ever advancing beyond that stage.
Iran named a 26-man squad for the tournament under coach Amir Ghalenoei, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh as captain. The Lions of Persia were led in attack by Mehdi Taremi, who joined Greek club Olympiacos after his stint at Inter Milan.
Goalkeepers
- Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor)
- Payam Niazmand (Persepolis)
- Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan)
Defenders
- Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan)
- Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis)
- Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Persepolis)
- Shojae Khalilzadeh (Tractor)
- Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad)
- Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal)
- Ali Nemati (Foolad)
- Danial Eiri (Malavan)
Midfielders
- Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender)
- Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli)
- Saman Ghoddos (Ittihad Kalba)
- Mehdi Torabi (Tractor)
- Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal)
- Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov)
- Mehdi Ghayedi (Al Nasr)
- Mohammad Ghorbani (Al Wahda)
- Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)
- Amirmohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal)
Forwards
- Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos)
- Ali Alipour (Persepolis)
- Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor)
- Shahriyar Moghanlou (Ittihad Kalba)
- Dennis Dargahi (Standard Liège)
Group-stage results
Iran drew all three of their Group G matches — 2-2 with New Zealand, 0-0 with Belgium and 1-1 with Egypt — for three points from three games. All three fixtures are listed below with final scores, venues and dates.
| Match | Date & venue | Final score |
|---|---|---|
| Iran vs New Zealand | Mon 15 Jun — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (Los Angeles) | 2–2 |
| Belgium vs Iran | Sun 21 Jun — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (Los Angeles) | 0–0 |
| Egypt vs Iran | Fri 26 Jun — Lumen Field, Seattle | 1–1 |
- Iran 2-2 New Zealand (15 June) — Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi scored for Iran; Elijah Just scored both of New Zealand’s goals.
- Belgium 0-0 Iran (21 June) — a goalless draw in which Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the 66th minute; goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves for Iran.
- Egypt 1-1 Iran (26 June) — Mahmoud Saber put Egypt ahead inside five minutes, Rezaeian equalised in the 14th, and a stoppage-time Iran goal was ruled out for offside.
Elimination and final Group G standings
Iran’s three draws were enough for third place in Group G but not enough to reach the knockouts: Belgium and Egypt advanced on goal difference, while Iran and New Zealand were eliminated.
| Team | Points | Goal difference | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 5 | +4 | Advanced (1st, round of 32) |
| Egypt | 5 | +2 | Advanced (2nd, round of 32) |
| Iran | 3 | 0 | Eliminated (3rd) |
| New Zealand | 1 | -6 | Eliminated (4th) |
Iran finished third in Group G but needed to rank among the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams to reach the round of 32 under the expanded 48-team format. Results elsewhere went against them — Croatia beat Ghana, DR Congo beat Uzbekistan, and Algeria’s stoppage-time collapse into a 3-3 draw with Austria proved decisive, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team had been “oppressed” by travel chaos throughout the tournament, pointing to three VAR-overturned Iran goals — the most disallowed for any team at the finals — as evidence of misfortune rather than poor form. Captain Mehdi Taremi was blunter on the squad’s return home, telling reporters: “Who wants to help us? If they want us to be out, OK, let’s be out. But that’s not fair.”
Where Iran played: host cities
Iran’s three group matches were split between two West Coast venues. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles hosted the New Zealand and Belgium games, while Lumen Field in Seattle staged the final group match against Egypt.
Iranian fans hoping to attend also had to navigate a separate obstacle: a US entry ban barred many Iranian passport holders from entering the country unless they already held a valid visa issued before the ban took effect, as reported by Al Jazeera. That restriction added to a campaign coach Ghalenoei said was marked by travel and logistical difficulties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Iran do in the 2026 World Cup group stage?
Iran drew all three Group G matches — 2-2 with New Zealand, 0-0 with Belgium and 1-1 with Egypt. They finished third with three points from three games.
Why didn’t Iran advance to the knockout rounds?
Iran’s third-place finish in Group G left them needing to rank among the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams. Results elsewhere, including Algeria’s stoppage-time 3-3 draw with Austria, went against them.
Who did Iran play in the group stage?
Iran were drawn in Group G with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt. They played all three between 15 and 26 June.
Which teams advanced from Group G?
Belgium finished first and Egypt second, both advancing to the round of 32 on goal difference over Iran. Iran and New Zealand were eliminated.
Where did Iran play their World Cup matches?
Iran played twice at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, against New Zealand and Belgium. Their final group match against Egypt was at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Sources
- FIFA — Belgium v IR Iran match centre (0-0)
- FIFA — Egypt v IR Iran match centre (1-1)
- ESPN — New Zealand vs Iran final score (2-2)
- ESPN — Belgium vs Iran final score (0-0)
- ESPN — Egypt vs Iran final score (1-1)
- ESPN — 2026 FIFA World Cup format, tiebreakers, fixtures and schedule
- Al Jazeera — Heightened emotions in Iran after Team Melli knocked out of World Cup
- Al Jazeera — Late drama ends Iran’s hopes of reaching World Cup knockouts for first time
- Al Jazeera — Belgium see red in goalless World Cup draw with Iran in Los Angeles
- Al Jazeera — Which World Cup teams, players and officials were denied US visas/entry
- FIFA — Iran name squad for World Cup 2026
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
