Iran vs New Zealand Prediction, Preview and Stats
World Cup
New Zealand
NZL
STANDINGS
| Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|
| Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|
| Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|
CONTEXT
Iran and New Zealand played out a 2-2 draw after a balanced first half that finished 1-1. New Zealand entered as the stronger side yet both teams traded goals evenly across the ninety minutes with possession split almost evenly at 49 percent to 51 percent. Expected goals finished at 1.52 for Iran and 1.4 for New Zealand producing a narrow differential of 0.12 that aligned with the final result. No red cards were shown and the second half produced no major structural shifts from the opening period. The outcome reflected the close underlying numbers despite New Zealand holding a pre-match edge in perceived quality. The match highlighted efficient finishing from both attacks without any single moment defining the scoreline.
TL;DR
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Structural deviation: New Zealand showed a significant 72 percent deviation from pre-match positioning yet still secured a draw.
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Efficiency shift: Both teams performed in line with their expected efficiency levels throughout the contest.
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xG alignment: The 2-2 result proved consistent with the close xG figures of 1.52 to 1.4.
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Market alignment: The draw outcome did not align with pre-match market expectations favoring New Zealand.
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xG expectations: Iran posted a slight xG advantage of 0.12 over New Zealand in a low-scoring affair.
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Event impact: The even halftime score of 1-1 carried through without decisive second-half adjustments.
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Red card distortion: No red cards occurred so the match result faced zero distortion from dismissals.
Quality vs Volume
Open Play vs Set Play
Expected Points
| Team | xPts |
|---|---|
| Home | 1.8 |
| Away | 1.2 |
Match referee
C. Ramos Palazuelos
Other match officials
A. Morín
1st Assistant
M. Bisguerra
2nd Assistant
Y. Araki
4th Official
League averages
World Cup Based on last 100 matches
Win Probabilities
Live Win Probability (90 Min)
Iran
New Zealand
Movement
Changes since opening
Iran
New Zealand
Team Power Ranking
i
25.92
44.44
Iran
New Zealand
Form Analysis Opponent-Weighted
Line chart of recent results (points/trend). Friendlies excluded by default. Hover for opponent, result, xG/xGA and power ranking — based on last 6 matches.
Heatmaps Ball coordinates
Attack and defence zones from ball position data. Filters: last 6 matches (overall/home/away), time period, competition.
Iran
New Zealand
Possession Efficiency Possession-Adjusted
How effectively each team uses and defends their share of possession. Efficiency adjusted based on team possession percentage
Iran
⚠ Proxy
Attacking Efficiency



Positive = above league average.
Negative = below league average.
Formula: EfficiencyIndex = z(AttackEff) − z(DefenceEff)




Set Pieces Efficiency Attack & Defence
Set-piece reliance and strength using expected metrics and actual outcomes for each team.








Counter / Transition Attack & Defence
What happens in the 15 seconds immediately after possession changes hands — based on Last 6 matches.














PRESSURE INDEX
Momentum phases from smoothed minute-by-minute pressure.
- IRN had peak pressure around 7'.
- IRN started the game with stronger pressure.
- Both teams' pressure dropped after the 30th minute.
Team Head to Head Last 6 Seasons
Summary of 0 matches between these sides — filtered by competition and venue context.








Data last updated: 2026-06-17T00:00:18+00:00
STARTING XI


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General Information
Next Match


Iran
vs
Belgium
League: World Cup
Kickoff: Sun, 21 Jun - 7:00 PM
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium
New Zealand
vs
Egypt
League: World Cup
Kickoff: Mon, 22 Jun - 1:00 AM
Venue: Vancouver Stadium
Statistics
Top Statistics
Match Overview
Attacking
Possession
Defensive
Build-up
Discipline
Lineup


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New Zealand
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Events
CONCLUSION
Iran vs New Zealand preview with tactical analysis, xG context, lineup signals, and data-backed betting insights for faster decisions.
Use this page as a quick-read snapshot first, then continue to deep stats and methodology references below.
How We Build This Analysis
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Daniels Zorge covers football fixtures with a focus on tactical matchups, playing styles, and key details that shape each game.

Match Commentary