Iran vs New Zealand Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form (Updated June 2026)

Iran and New Zealand meet in a World Cup 2026 group-stage fixture on 16 June 2026, with the two sides separated by a significant gulf in the world rankings — Iran sit at 20th while New Zealand are placed 85th. Despite that gap on paper, the match will be their first recorded senior meeting, making current form and tournament context the most reliable guide to what each team brings into the contest.

Head-to-Head Record

Iran and New Zealand have no recorded senior head-to-head meetings, making this World Cup 2026 fixture a genuine first encounter between the two nations at this level. With no shared history to draw on, recent form, squad quality and the ranking differential become the primary lenses through which to assess both sides ahead of 16 June.

Iran: Recent Form

Iran arrive at the tournament in notably strong shape. Across their last six matches they have posted a W-W-W-L-D-D sequence (reading from most recent), translating to three wins, two draws and one defeat. They have scored 11 goals and conceded just 3 over that stretch — an average of 1.83 goals for and only 0.50 against per match — accumulating 1.83 points per game. Defensively, Iran have kept four clean sheets in six outings, though they have also failed to score on two occasions. Their three most recent results tell a particularly encouraging story heading into the World Cup.

• 4 Jun 2026 — Iran 2–0 Mali (H) — Win
• 29 May 2026 — Iran 3–1 Gambia (H) — Win
• 31 Mar 2026 — Costa Rica 0–5 Iran (A) — Win

The only blemish in recent memory was a 1–2 home defeat to Nigeria in March, sandwiched between a pair of goalless draws against Uzbekistan and Cabo Verde in November 2025. Three consecutive wins since then, including a commanding 5–0 away victory over Costa Rica, underline Iran’s pre-tournament momentum.

New Zealand: Recent Form

New Zealand’s preparation has been considerably more turbulent. Their last six matches produced just one win against five defeats, with no draws recorded — a sequence of L-L-W-L-L-L. They have managed only 5 goals while conceding 12, averaging 0.83 goals scored and 2.00 conceded per match, and their points-per-game figure of 0.50 reflects a side that has struggled for consistency. Notably, New Zealand have failed to score in four of their six most recent fixtures and have not kept a single clean sheet in that period.

• 6 Jun 2026 — England 1–0 New Zealand (A) — Loss
• 3 Jun 2026 — Haiti 4–0 New Zealand (A) — Loss
• 30 Mar 2026 — New Zealand 4–1 Chile (H) — Win

Their sole victory — a 4–1 home win over Chile in March — stands as a positive, but back-to-back pre-tournament defeats away to England (1–0) and Haiti (4–0) will be a concern, particularly given the defensive vulnerabilities those results exposed.

Form and Record at a Glance

• Head-to-head: No recorded senior meetings between Iran and New Zealand — this is a first.
• Iran’s last 6: 3 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat — 1.83 points per game.
• New Zealand’s last 6: 1 win, 0 draws, 5 defeats — 0.50 points per game.
• Iran’s goals: 11 scored, 3 conceded across six matches; 4 clean sheets.
• New Zealand’s goals: 5 scored, 12 conceded across six matches; 0 clean sheets.
• Ranking gap: Iran (20th) hold a 65-place advantage over New Zealand (85th) in the world rankings.

How Iran and New Zealand Compare

The statistical contrast between the two sides is stark across every key metric. Iran’s average of 0.50 goals conceded per match over their last six is four times better than New Zealand’s 2.00, and their four clean sheets to New Zealand’s none illustrates the defensive solidity Iran have built heading into the tournament. In attack, Iran’s 1.83 goals per match comfortably outpaces New Zealand’s 0.83, while the All Whites’ failure to score in four of their last six fixtures raises further questions about their ability to threaten a well-organised backline. Iran’s superior ranking and recent form both point to a team that enters this World Cup 2026 fixture with considerably more momentum than their opponents.

FAQ

Have Iran and New Zealand ever played each other before?

No — there are no recorded senior meetings between Iran and New Zealand, making their 16 June 2026 World Cup fixture a historic first encounter between the two nations.

What is Iran’s recent form heading into the World Cup 2026?

Iran have won three, drawn two and lost one of their last six matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding just 3, with four clean sheets — a points-per-game average of 1.83 in that span.

What is New Zealand’s recent form heading into the World Cup 2026?

New Zealand have won just one of their last six matches, losing five, with no clean sheets, 5 goals scored and 12 conceded — averaging only 0.50 points per game across that period.

Read also: Iran vs New Zealand: Predicted Lineups for 2026 World Cup
Read also: Iran vs New Zealand Betting Odds | Full Markets & Predictions
Read also: New Zealand 2026 World Cup Preview: Squad, Odds, Prediction & Best Bets
Read also: Iran 2026 World Cup Preview: Squad, Odds, Prediction & Best Bets
Read also: 2026 World Cup Group G Preview: Belgium, Egypt, Iran & New Zealand – Predictions, Odds & Best Bets

When do Iran and New Zealand play at the 2026 World Cup?

Iran face New Zealand on 16 June 2026 as part of the World Cup 2026 group stage.