Who Is Elijah Just? New Zealand's Historic World Cup Hero
With two goals against Iran in Los Angeles on June 15, Elijah Just became the first player in All Whites history to score a brace in a single FIFA World Cup match — a feat that instantly made the 26-year-old Motherwell winger one of the most-searched names in world football.
The Two Goals That Made History
New Zealand had never seen anything quite like it. In the 7th minute at SoFi Stadium, Elijah Just collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and, with the composure of a seasoned World Cup veteran, hammered a fierce volley into the roof of the net to give the All Whites a stunning early lead against Iran. The stadium erupted. The All Whites bench went wild.
Iran — ranked among the stronger teams in Group G — pulled level through Ramin Rezaeian in the 32nd minute, and the match settled into a pulsating, end-to-end contest. Then, in the 54th minute, Just struck again. Latching onto a ball in the box, he showed tremendous technique to finish coolly and restore New Zealand's advantage, sending the pockets of All Whites fans in Los Angeles into raptures.
Iran ultimately fought back through Mohammad Mohebbi (64') to draw 2-2, but the final result could not overshadow what Just had achieved: New Zealand's first ever World Cup brace, in what was arguably the All Whites' finest ever World Cup performance. See our Group G preview for the full tournament context.
Who Is Elijah Just? The Man Behind the Goals
Elijah Just, 26, is a winger who plays for Motherwell FC in the Scottish Premiership — not exactly the stage you would expect to produce a FIFA World Cup hero. Born to a German father and a mother of Chinese descent, Just represents New Zealand and made his international debut in 2019. Standing 5'9" but electric in pace and directness, he has developed a reputation as one of the most dangerous wide players in Scottish football.
His route to the World Cup was anything but straightforward. Just spent much of the early part of his career progressing through lower leagues, eventually breaking through at Motherwell where his natural instincts as a goal-scoring winger earned him consistent selection under New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley. Heading into the tournament, he had scored 9 international goals — a decent return but nothing that suggested a World Cup brace was coming.
After the Iran match, Just's tally stood at 11 international goals — and his two World Cup efforts came in the space of 47 minutes. Transfer speculation has already begun to emerge: football360.com.au reported that his performance has attracted interest from Celtic and Rangers — clubs who operate in the same Scottish league and would represent a significant step up for the New Zealand international.
New Zealand's World Cup Journey — From 1982 to 2026
New Zealand's history at the FIFA World Cup is a story of long waits and hard-fought moments. They first qualified in 1982, losing all three group stage matches. They returned in 2010 — the most famous chapter — where they drew all three group matches (against Slovakia, Italy, and Paraguay) to finish unbeaten but exit without advancing. It took another 16 years, and a remarkable qualification campaign through the OFC, to return in 2026.
The 2-2 draw with Iran is, statistically, one of New Zealand's best ever World Cup results. They scored twice, led twice, and created multiple other chances. While the point is valuable, the All Whites will be aware that Group G's other match — Belgium 1-1 Egypt — means the group remains wide open. A win in matchday 2 could put New Zealand in serious contention for the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
For more on New Zealand's World Cup story, and their squad profile heading into the tournament, see our dedicated guide.
Iran's Response — Team Melli Rescue a Point
While Just was the headline name, credit must also go to Iran for showing the resilience and quality to fight back from 2-1 down. Ramin Rezaeian's equalizer was brilliantly constructed — a driving run followed by a clinical finish — and Mohebbi's 64th-minute header showed Iran's attacking depth. Carlos Queiroz's side know that a point against New Zealand is a reasonable start; they will need more in the matches ahead. For Iran's full World Cup profile, see our team guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elijah Just is a 26-year-old New Zealand international winger who plays for Motherwell FC in the Scottish Premiership. He scored twice against Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first All White to score a brace in a single World Cup game.
Iran and New Zealand drew 2-2 in their Group G opener on June 15, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand (7', 54'), while Ramin Rezaeian (32') and Mohammad Mohebbi (64') scored for Iran.
New Zealand have never won a FIFA World Cup match. They drew all three games in 2010 and lost all three in 1982. The 2-2 draw with Iran in 2026 continues that unbeaten-but-no-wins record — though it is arguably their best World Cup performance in terms of chances created and goals scored.