Omar Bravo's brace put Mexico on course for a 3-1 triumph over Iran in the opening match of Group D in Nuremberg.
The Mexican striker converted from close range to give the Latin Americans the lead, but Iran were level by half time through Yahya Golmohammadi's emphatic finish.
A tense game was decided in the space of three second half minutes when Bravo restored Mexico's lead after an Iranian error and Antonio Naelson, nicknamed Zinha, finished a superb move.
Iran produced the most telling moments of the early stages, with Mehdi Mahdavikia determined to make the most of the new football by hitting a swerving shot from 40 yards which was just wide.
Though the veteran Ali Daei was pedestrian in attack, he had pacey support around him and a penetrating burst from Ali Karimi was halted by a fine tackle from Mexico captain Rafael Marquez.
In the space of 60 seconds, Vahid Hashemian could have twice given Iran the lead, as he firstly failed to connect with Hossein Kaebi's ball into the six-yard box.
The Middle Eastern side retained possession and, via a cross from the left, Hashemian glanced a header towards goal only to see Oswaldo Sanchez acrobatically paw his attempt away.
Mexico slowly crept into the contest, with set-pieces proving their most potent threat, as Marquez failed to direct a corner on target.
From another Pavel Pardo delivery, Guillermo Franco's near-post flick eluded his team-mates, but on 28 minutes the combination struck decisively.
Pardo clipped in a free kick from the right, Franco nodded on and the unmarked Bravo had a simple finish from close range, with Iran vainly appealing for offside.
Iran, though, refused to wilt and responded with an equaliser from a set-piece of their own on 36 minutes.
Rahman Rezaei's header from a corner was stopped at point-blank range by Sanchez, but the rebound was thumped into the net by Golmohammadi.
Ricardo Lavolpe made a double change at half time, but barely minutes later and the Mexico coach had to use up his third substitution when Bolton striker Jared Borgetti picked up an injury.
Mahdavikia had another shot from range comfortably saved by Sanchez, with Mexico's switch in formation starting to cause the Iranians more problems.
Marquez was pushing further forward into a midfield position and one charge into the box was unceremoniously halted by Golmohammadi, although no penalty was awarded.
Much of the second half dipped into a dreary lull until Mexico pounced on an Iranian error to grab a second goal on 76 minutes.
Iran keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour's poor clearance was knocked back to Rezaei, who dwelt on the ball long enough for Zinha to pinch possession and roll a crisp through ball for Bravo to tuck home his second of the game.
Just three minutes later and Mexico scored again following a delightful move. Zinha skipped past a couple of token Iran challenges and laid the ball to the right.
Mario Mendez whipped in the cross and Zinha, who had continued his surge into the area, connected with a deft header to secure the points for Lavolpe's side.
The Mexican striker converted from close range to give the Latin Americans the lead, but Iran were level by half time through Yahya Golmohammadi's emphatic finish.
A tense game was decided in the space of three second half minutes when Bravo restored Mexico's lead after an Iranian error and Antonio Naelson, nicknamed Zinha, finished a superb move.
Iran produced the most telling moments of the early stages, with Mehdi Mahdavikia determined to make the most of the new football by hitting a swerving shot from 40 yards which was just wide.
Though the veteran Ali Daei was pedestrian in attack, he had pacey support around him and a penetrating burst from Ali Karimi was halted by a fine tackle from Mexico captain Rafael Marquez.
In the space of 60 seconds, Vahid Hashemian could have twice given Iran the lead, as he firstly failed to connect with Hossein Kaebi's ball into the six-yard box.
The Middle Eastern side retained possession and, via a cross from the left, Hashemian glanced a header towards goal only to see Oswaldo Sanchez acrobatically paw his attempt away.
Mexico slowly crept into the contest, with set-pieces proving their most potent threat, as Marquez failed to direct a corner on target.
From another Pavel Pardo delivery, Guillermo Franco's near-post flick eluded his team-mates, but on 28 minutes the combination struck decisively.
Pardo clipped in a free kick from the right, Franco nodded on and the unmarked Bravo had a simple finish from close range, with Iran vainly appealing for offside.
Iran, though, refused to wilt and responded with an equaliser from a set-piece of their own on 36 minutes.
Rahman Rezaei's header from a corner was stopped at point-blank range by Sanchez, but the rebound was thumped into the net by Golmohammadi.
Ricardo Lavolpe made a double change at half time, but barely minutes later and the Mexico coach had to use up his third substitution when Bolton striker Jared Borgetti picked up an injury.
Mahdavikia had another shot from range comfortably saved by Sanchez, with Mexico's switch in formation starting to cause the Iranians more problems.
Marquez was pushing further forward into a midfield position and one charge into the box was unceremoniously halted by Golmohammadi, although no penalty was awarded.
Much of the second half dipped into a dreary lull until Mexico pounced on an Iranian error to grab a second goal on 76 minutes.
Iran keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour's poor clearance was knocked back to Rezaei, who dwelt on the ball long enough for Zinha to pinch possession and roll a crisp through ball for Bravo to tuck home his second of the game.
Just three minutes later and Mexico scored again following a delightful move. Zinha skipped past a couple of token Iran challenges and laid the ball to the right.
Mario Mendez whipped in the cross and Zinha, who had continued his surge into the area, connected with a deft header to secure the points for Lavolpe's side.
