INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In a historic showing that upended pre-tournament expectations, New Zealand winger Elijah Juet etched his name into his country’s soccer record books Monday night as the first Kiwi player ever to net two goals in a single men’s World Cup match. Yet, even with the landmark performance, the 85th-ranked All Whites fell just short of securing their first ever win at the global tournament, settling for a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Iran at the Los Angeles-area venue.
This result marks New Zealand’s fourth draw all-time in World Cup play, matching the unbeaten three-draw run the side posted at the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Speaking after the final whistle, head coach Darren Bazeley called the performance one of the strongest in the nation’s soccer history, noting “We came here to win and we were so close to making history.”
Just, who entered the 2026 expanded 48-team World Cup fresh off a standout season with Scotland’s Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership that saw him shortlisted for the league’s player of the year award, put the All Whites ahead twice — first at 1-0, then again at 2-1. After his second goal, the 26-year-old winger blew a kiss to the stands, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino was among the spectators in attendance. Star Kiwi striker Chris Wood, the nation’s most recognizable soccer player, picked up assists on both of Just’s goals.
Juet’s entire immediate family — his parents, brother, uncle and girlfriend — traveled to watch the match, which was held in an area where Iranian fans dominated the stands. The crowd makeup was no surprise: Los Angeles is home to the largest community of Iranians outside of Iran’s borders.
Reflecting on the match, Juet praised his side’s poise under pressure. “Walking out the adrenaline was really high. Once the game started you kind of calm down a little bit. We were quite good with the ball. We dealt with the occasion really well. The players were really brave. Overall, it’s the performance we needed,” he said, adding, “I think we showed today that we’re a dangerous team. You can’t be disappointed. A point in the World Cup is always tough to get.”
Bazeley said he was not shocked by his winger’s breakout performance, having trained and worked with Just for many years. “He showed the world how dangerous he can be. He’s of slight build, but he gets into pockets, turns and reacts quick. I think a lot of people are probably watching that today and saying, ‘He’s a good player.’ This is going to help him a lot,” the coach said.
New Zealand’s path to the 2026 World Cup is only the third qualification in the nation’s history, after appearances in 1982 and 2010. The All Whites, a side from a country better known globally as a powerhouse of rugby union rather than soccer, have never advanced past the tournament’s group stage. Before Monday’s match, the side watched fellow underdog Cape Verde hold global powerhouse Spain to a draw, a result that left Bazeley confident his own team could pull off a surprise upset.
Young defender Finn Surman echoed Juet and Bazeley’s optimism, saying of the winger: “He’s an amazing player and he’s so dangerous when we get him going forward.” Surman added that the draw against heavily favored Iran has already shifted outside perceptions of the low-ranked Kiwi side. “It’s potentially changed people’s view on us and what they kind of expect from us. We still think we can be better. We know we can be better.”
The All Whites will get their next shot at history, and their first ever World Cup win, when they face Egypt in group stage play this Sunday in Vancouver, British Columbia. The result against Iran has already injected the underdog side with new confidence and drawn global attention ahead of their next match, with two group games still left to compete for a knockout stage spot.