Iran draw 2–2, Turkish commentator suspended for team mix-up

Iran 2–2 New Zealand, and a commentator lost the plot

Your team opened their first World Cup in 16 years with a 2–2 draw against Iran in Group G on Tuesday (2). The result itself is historic, New Zealand have still never lost a World Cup group match, having drawn all three in 2010 and now adding a fourth.

But the story that blew up afterwards had nothing to do with football. A Turkish commentator was suspended for confusing Iran and New Zealand for four full minutes during the broadcast (2). The network called it "unacceptable" and acted immediately (2).

Egypt next, and everything is still in play

New Zealand face Egypt on Monday, June 22, at 03:00 CEST (1). It is the first World Cup meeting between an OFC nation and a CAF opponent, and with a point already on the board, your team have a genuine path to the knockout stage.

Fan reactions

New Zealand fans online are caught between two emotions, pride in the result and disbelief at the commentary fiasco. The prevailing sentiment is wry amusement: waiting 16 years for a World Cup return only to have a broadcaster not know which team they were watching. See the thread here