New Zealand Failed to Score in 4 of Their Last 5 and the World Cup Underdog Story Just Got Real

Okay, buddy, buckle up because the 2026 World Cup is heating up, and Monday night's Group G showdown between Iran and New Zealand is gonna be wild! Kicking off at 9 p.m. ET from Los Angeles Stadium, this isn't just another game. We're talking major stakes here, especially after SportsLine's sharp expert, Jon Eimer, just dropped his prediction. And trust me, his pick for the Under 2.5 total goals is going to make some serious waves. Get ready, because this one's got drama written all over it!

The Brutal Numbers Are Piling Up for New Zealand

Seriously, New Zealand is rolling into this World Cup clash as the lowest-ranked team in the entire tournament, sitting way down at 85th in FIFA. You know that feeling when your team just can't catch a break? That's the Kiwis right now. They haven't won a single one of their previous SIX World Cup matches. Think about that for a second. Their last World Cup appearance saw all three of their group matches hit under 2.5 goals, which is already a tough stat. But wait, it gets even worse: they've failed to score in four of their last five matches overall! So, yeah, when Jon Eimer looks at that, you can totally see why he'd be leaning hard towards a low-scoring affair. The offensive struggles are real, folks.

Iran's Shot at History and That Wild Under Pick

Now, let's flip the script to Iran. They're ranked 20th in FIFA, a much different story. This is their seventh World Cup appearance, and they've got one massive goal: finally getting past the group stage! It would be historic for them, and this is their fourth World Cup in a row, so they're hungry. FanDuel's got Iran at -130 on the 90-minute money line, making them the favorite, with New Zealand way out there at +400, and a draw at +240. But here's the wild part, and why Eimer's pick is so smart: Iran's World Cup history isn't exactly filled with goal fests either. Nine of their last eleven World Cup matches have also seen under 2.5 total goals! It's like both teams have a mutual agreement to keep the score low. That's why SportsLine's Jon Eimer, who's been absolutely red-hot this year with a 31-13-2 record on soccer picks and has cleaned up on Champions League, is all-in on the Under 2.5 total goals. The dude is on a 12-5-2 run on his World Cup picks already, making serious bank, and he clearly sees this pattern. So, mark your calendars for Monday at 9 p.m. ET. Whether you're pulling for Iran to finally make history or hoping New Zealand can somehow defy the odds and their brutal scoring drought, this Group G match has all the ingredients for a nail-biter. With both teams' World Cup history pointing to a low-scoring game, Eimer's Under 2.5 pick feels like it could be pure genius. Will his hot streak continue, or will one of these teams somehow explode for goals? We'll find out together. Go grab some Rainier and get ready to yell at the TV, because this is gonna be good!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.