Photographer Mark Terrill captures overhead goal shot at World Cup 2026 New Zealand vs Iran match

Associated Press photographer Mark J. Terrill used innovative remote camera technology to capture an extraordinary overhead view of New Zealand player Elijah Just scoring against Iran during a World Cup 2026 match at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California. Terrill, who began his 44-year photography career at age 16 as a freelance AP photographer and joined the news organization full-time in 1997, deployed six remote cameras strategically positioned throughout the stadium's catwalk to achieve the unique vantage point.

To create the shot, Terrill placed four remote cameras in the catwalk—one behind each goal and one on each side—along with two additional cameras behind the goal where the scoring play occurred. All cameras were triggered via radio transceivers from his shooting position on the pitch, allowing him to capture the action from multiple angles simultaneously. This technical approach addresses a primary goal in sports photography: producing distinctive images that audiences have not seen before and that competitors do not have access to.

The resulting photograph exemplifies effective sports photography composition, capturing multiple essential elements in a single frame: the scoring player, the goalkeeper unable to prevent the goal, defending players reacting to the play, and a clean background that keeps focus on the action. Terrill's use of remotely triggered cameras demonstrates how modern photojournalism technology enables photographers to position equipment in locations where physical presence is impossible, creating perspectives that traditional sideline photography cannot achieve.