New Zealand lineup vs. Iran: Predicted XI for World Cup 2026 Group G clash as talisman Chris Wood carries All Whites' hopes

New Zealand skipper and centre-forward Chris Wood volition transportation the hopes of an full federation connected his shoulders erstwhile the All Whites footwear disconnected their 2026 World Cup run against Iran on Monday night.

The Nottingham Forest frontman boasts a superb planetary grounds of 45 goals successful 90 caps, representing a lethal one-goal-in-two complaint for his country.

However, the experienced striker enters the tourney disconnected the backmost of a challenging twelvemonth aft sustaining a terrible genu wounded that kept him retired for astir six months.

Following his instrumentality to enactment successful April, Wood was constricted to conscionable 3 Premier League goals successful 15 matches for his club.

Management volition beryllium hopeless for the skipper to deed the crushed running, fixed the Oceania side's evident deficiency of goals from elsewhere.

Only Kosta Barbarouses has netted treble figures successful planetary goals for the All Whites with 10 strikes, portion Port Vale's Ben Waine needs 1 much to deed 10 goals for the nationalist team.

With RyanThomas sidelined, Marko Stamenic and Joe Bell should signifier the midfield concern down an violative trio of Barbarouses, Matthew Garbett and Waine.

Further back, Max Crocombe is acceptable to commencement successful extremity down a backmost 4 consisting of Tim Payne, Michael Boxall, Nando Pijnaker and Liberato Cacace.

New Zealand imaginable starting lineup:

Crocombe; Payne, Boxall, Pijnaker, Cacace; Bell, Stamenic; Barbarouses, Garbett, Waine; Wood

> Click present to spot however Iran could enactment up against New Zealand