Veteran Striker Wood Leads New Zealand in World Cup Draw

Veteran striker Chris Wood was instrumental in New Zealand's 2-2 draw against Iran in their 2026 World Cup opener. Wood, 34, showcased his experience by assisting both goals scored by 26-year-old winger Elijah Just. Wood emphasized his role in providing experience to younger teammates, aiming to bring out his best performance for the team. He has scored 45 goals in 91 matches for New Zealand since 2009 and is the country's all-time top goal scorer. Despite a recent knee injury, Wood scored five goals in 20 matches for Nottingham Forest. He also had a standout club season in 2024-25, finishing fifth in Premier League scoring with 20 goals. Wood joins a group of players over 30 defying age with impressive performances.