Iran vs NZ Prediction: World Cup Betting Tips & Odds

Iran and New Zealand get their World Cup campaigns underway at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon New Zealand time, with both sides viewing this Group G opener as their clearest path to three points.

Belgium and Egypt complete the group. Iran are ranked 21st, have been to four consecutive World Cups, and arrived off three straight wins. New Zealand are 85th, at their first tournament since 2010, and have won once in five.

In this Iran vs New Zealand preview, I look at form, squad depth and the tactical mismatch between these sides. I’ve also got a clean sheet angle at good value for those checking football betting tips ahead of the World Cup.

Iran

Three wins from three in the warm-up games. Iran put five past Costa Rica in March before beating Gambia 3-1 and Mali 2-0 during their training camp in Turkey. Mehdi Taremi scored in three of those four recent matches. At 33, this is probably his final World Cup and he’s looked sharp.

I’m cautious about reading too much into that run, though. Costa Rica and Gambia aren’t World Cup-level opposition. Iran’s one game against a decent side during camp - Nigeria - they lost 2-1. And the two fixtures before that, against Cape Verde and Uzbekistan, both finished 0-0.

Ghalenoei’s team play on the counter. They don’t want the ball. They’ll concede possession willingly and look to release Taremi in space. Against a New Zealand side who won’t dominate possession either, I can see this being cagey until the second half.

Team News: No injuries or suspensions reported. Azmoun was left out of the squad after a reported falling-out with the federation.

Predicted Lineup: Beiranvand; Rezaeian, Khalilzadeh, Kanaanizadegan, Mohammadi; Ezatolahi, Cheshmi; Jahanbakhsh, Ghoddos, Ghayedi; Taremi.

New Zealand

Our Kiwis are at one win from five recent internationals. Their 4-1 demolition of Chile in March was brilliant, but since then it’s been rough. Haiti scored four against them on June 3. England beat them 1-0 three days later, with Kane’s first-half header the only goal in a game where the All Whites recorded 0.12 xG.

Chris Wood is fit. For the All Whites, nothing else in this squad is as important. He had knee surgery in December, missed most of Forest’s season, and copped a bad tackle from Porto’s Bednarek in April that panicked the entire country. Different knee, just a contusion, and he’s been available for six weeks. At 34, this is his final World Cup.

I’m less convinced by what surrounds him. Crocombe in goal is a Championship keeper at Millwall. Bell and Stamenic in midfield are honest professionals without the creativity to unlock a deep defence. Bazeley will set up to frustrate and hope Wood can nick a goal on the break.

Team News: Full squad available. No injuries or suspensions.

Predicted Lineup: Crocombe; Payne, Boxall, Bindon, Cacace; Bell, Stamenic; Garbett, Thomas, Old; Wood.

• These two nations have never previously met in any competition.
• Iran have never progressed beyond the group stage in six previous World Cup appearances.
• New Zealand went unbeaten at the 2010 World Cup, including a 1-1 result against defending champions Italy.
• Iran scored 10 goals across their last three warm-up friendlies.
• Chris Wood has 45 goals in 90 international appearances for New Zealand.

I’m tipping Iran. I don’t expect this to be comfortable - World Cup openers rarely are - but the gap in quality between these two squads is plain to see.

Taremi has over 55 international goals and plays European club football at a high level. Jahanbakhsh and Ghoddos have close to 200 caps between them. New Zealand’s second-most recognisable player is a Championship goalkeeper.

I wouldn’t rule out Wood nicking a goal from a set piece or a half-chance. He’s proven at Premier League level and he’ll be fired up for this. But I can’t see the All Whites creating enough chances to seriously trouble Iran across 90 minutes.

For those tracking the World Cup through betting apps in NZ, the unders look solid here alongside an Iran result.

Iran Win to Nil @ $2.50

New Zealand have failed to score in four of their last five internationals. Against England, they generated just 0.12 xG. Haiti and Finland both scored freely against them without conceding. Even the Chile result, impressive as it was, came against a team experimenting with their squad.

Iran’s defence has been tight. One goal conceded across three warm-up fixtures, and Beiranvand is a veteran at his third World Cup.

At $2.50, I’m confident backing that on the best live betting sites open to New Zealand punters for this tournament.