Dugout Discussion

Iran v New Zealand team news: Wood and Taremi start

16 June 2026 33 comments
TopMarx TopMarx
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Iran take on a New Zealand in this must-win group G encounter in Los Angeles.

New Zealand, ranked 85th in the world according to FIFA, lost 4-0 to Haiti in a recent June friendly, before suffering a 1-0 defeat to England.

Iran, in contrast, won each of their last three friendlies, including a 5-0 win over Costa Rica in March.

Belgium and Egypt, the two other teams in Group G, played out a 1-1 draw earlier.

Kick-off is at 02:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Star striker Mehdi Taremi ($6.1m), with 10 goals and seven assists in qualifying, leads the line for Iran. The 33-year-old Olympiacos forward is on penalties and direct free-kicks and also scored four times in four friendlies leading up to the competition.

Ex-Brentford player Saman Ghoddos ($4.9m), who hit this belter against Burnley back in October 2023, lines-up in midfield.

For New Zealand, all-time leading goalscorer Chris Wood ($6.5m) will be looking to add to his 45 goals for his country. The Nottingham Forest striker spent most the of 2025/26 campaign on the sidelines but returned to fitness before the end of the season, netting against Sunderland and Aston Villa.

A budget-friendly backline includes corner-taking Tim Payne ($3.6m), who earns his 53rd international cap.

LINE-UPS

Iran XI: Alireza Beiranvand, Ramin Rezaeian, Ali Nemati, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Milad Mohammadi, Arya Yousefi, Saman Ghoddos, Saeed Ezatolahi, Mohammad Mohebi, Shahriar Moghanlou, Mehdi Taremi

Subs: P. Niazmand, H. Hosseini, S. Hardani, E. Hajsafi, A. Jahanbakhsh, M. Ghayedi, A. Alipour, H. Kanaani, R. Cheshmi, M. Torabi, A. Hosseinzadeh, M. Ghorbani, D. Eckert, D. Eiri, A. Razzaghinia

New Zealand XI: Max Crocombe, Tim Payne, Finn Surman, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Joe Bell, Marko Stamenić, Callum McCowatt, Sarpreet Singh, Elijah Just, Chris Wood

Subs: A. Paulsen, M. Woud, F. de Vries, T. Bindon, A. Rufer, N. Pijnaker, K. Barbarouses, B. Waine, B. Old, J. Randall, R. Thomas, C. Elliot, L. Bayliss, T. Smith

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33 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. JohnnyCroat
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 26 days ago

    Ornstein thinks Barco (the bargain fullback ex-Brighton) might rock up at Chelsea... we all getting bitten again?

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    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 26 days ago

      he can rock up the bench

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    2. Onz
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 26 days ago

      Transfer from the sister club, and signed a 6 year contract. Could be loaned out, or make the bench for a season or two.

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  2. JT11fc
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 26 days ago

    Why is Just on my bench?!!?!?!? I forgot I owned him in all the excitement, especially as a Kiwi to not even start him just incase.....ow

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    1. Kroenius
      1 month, 26 days ago

      RIP,but is your team for the rest doing ok?

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      1. JT11fc
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 26 days ago

        Not bad I dont think, 35 with Mendes, Oreilly, Bruno, Diaz, Olise and Ronaldo left, captain to be decided.
        Howa bout your team?

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        1. Kroenius
          1 month, 26 days ago

          30 with Messi,Kane,Luis Diaz,Bruno and 12th men Haaland still to play. Captain still switching(hoping for more than Dest,who's my highest scorer atm but forgot to put captain on so more than 8 of Kimmich and I'm content).

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          1. JT11fc
            • 7 Years
            1 month, 26 days ago

            Thats alot of firepower left to play.
            I cant get it into my head that I can switch players out after they play if they dont return haha

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        2. Kroenius
          1 month, 26 days ago

          Finding a gem like Just and then not playin him is rough.

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  3. JT11fc
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 26 days ago

    I benched Just in all the excitement...... as Kiwi thats awful

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    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 26 days ago

      Hmm, website having a holiday haha

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      1. Ausman
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 26 days ago

        Website still in shock after Spain result!

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  4. garcinha
    1 month, 26 days ago

    Which player would you prefer to play this matchday? They are both from COLOMBIA.

    Daniel Muñoz vs. UZB
    James Rodríguez vs. UBS

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    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 26 days ago

      Rodriguez, more routes to points and scouting bonus as well.

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    2. Tomsk
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 26 days ago

      I’d play Munoz, he’s so attacking. Just a shame he is over 5% owned.

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  5. Tomsk
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 26 days ago

    Just seen Oyarzabal didn’t touch the ball in the first 30 minutes against Cape Verdi. That’s incredible, just about sums Spain up yesterday.

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    1. Thanos
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 26 days ago

      Spain was awful yesterday.

      Not sure what to do about the loaded up Spain players now.

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      1. Tomsk
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 26 days ago

        Me too. I own Pedri and he looked completely clueless as to how to unlock the Cape Verdi defence.

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        1. Thanos
          • 5 Years
          1 month, 26 days ago

          Entire team was playing tiki taka or that nonsense.

          Everyone was clueless.

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    2. Kroenius
      1 month, 25 days ago

      Happy to at least avoid that landmine,although my Laporte exclusion cuz I was fearful of missing out on the Bonus wouldn't have been bad. Still happy with Dest though.

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  6. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 26 days ago

    Who seem to be the essentials for MD3? Mbappe, vini and one of doku/ kdb?

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    1. Thanos
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 26 days ago

      Doke/KDB - did they play well?

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      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 26 days ago

        Was a tough fixture. Much easier fixture MD2.

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        1. Thanos
          • 5 Years
          1 month, 26 days ago

          Thanks

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      2. Skonto Rigga
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 26 days ago

        Just posted Tom's Scout Notes on the Belgium game here, Thanos: https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2026/06/16/world-cup-fantasy-notes-lukaku-impact-salah-in-the-10-doku-niggle

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        1. Thanos
          • 5 Years
          1 month, 26 days ago

          Thanks SK! Very much appreciated.

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          1. Thanos
            • 5 Years
            1 month, 26 days ago

            Oops SR! 🙁

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      3. Kroenius
        1 month, 26 days ago

        As a Belgian,KDB was better in 2nd after an overall passionless first half by whole 11 & Doku was lackluster,although Egypt tackled really hard and should've gotten an extra yellow for it. Doku probably just not 100% yet(https://sporza.be/nl/2026/06/16/-geirriteerd-door-ademhalingsproblemen-is-er-toch-meer-aan-de-hand-met-jeremy-doku-na-gestaakte-training~1781571596599/) He might also miss a knockout game due to the birth of his child (https://sporza.be/nl/2026/06/13/mist-jeremy-doku-straks-cruciale-wk-match-rode-duivel-wil-bij-nakende-geboorte-1e-kindje-zijn-op-elke-mogelijke-manier~1781326063645/)

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    2. Kroenius
      1 month, 26 days ago

      I'm wildcarding M3 and maybe no Mbappe,Norway are quite good and if they are 6/6,he could get rested

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      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 25 days ago

        Oops, meant MD2

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  7. Tomsk
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 26 days ago

    Think Diomande could be good be for MD3 for Ivory Coast v Curacao.

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    1. Tomsk
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 26 days ago

      Oops, was supposed to be reply to above.

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    2. Kroenius
      1 month, 25 days ago

      Yeah,him and Saibari are also on my radar

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