Who is Elijah Just? New Zealand's first two-goal scorer in single World Cup match
Just netted his first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Iran.
New Zealand forward Elijah Just scored his team’s first goal in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opening game against Iran in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Then he latched on to another to make World Cup history.
Elijah Just linked up with attacker Chris Wood inside the area before slamming a shot high into the net to give his team the lead. Just, 26, is of Chinese descent through his mother. Meanwhile, his father is German.
Just, who plays for Motherwell FC in the Scottish League, made his New Zealand debut in 2019. His first goal against Iran is his 10th in international football. With his second goal of the match, he now has 11 international goals.
Elijah Just is making his FIFA World Cup debut for New Zealand. The forward did it impressively, giving New Zealand their first World Cup goal in the 2026 competition.
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Elijah Just profile
Club: Motherwell FC
Position: Forward
Age: 26
Elijah Just is a professional footballer who operates as a midfielder and on the flank for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership and for New Zealand’s national team. He scored the opening goal for the “All Whites” in their FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Iran. His second earned him immortality as the All Whites’ first player with two goals in a World Cup match.
Just is a very technical player who excels at speed and mobility.
After graduating from New Zealand’s Ole Academy, he played for several years in Denmark and Austria before joining Scottish Premiership side Motherwell FC. He has been recognised as a standout talent in Europe. His market value has increased significantly.
He appeared for New Zealand in the U-17 and U-20 World Cups, as well as in the delayed Tokyo Olympics. Then he now features in the All Whites’ World Cup 2026 squad.
Born in New Zealand, he has Chinese ancestry through his mother and German ancestry through his father.
Which club does Elijah Just play for?
He plays for Scottish club Motherwell FC.
Where was he born?
He was born in New Zealand. He has Chinese heritage through his mother and German ancestry through his father.
How old is he?
He is 26 years old.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.