Iran qualifies for 2026 World Cup after draw with Uzbekistan
Iran has qualified for the World Cup finals for the seventh time with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan in Tehran.
Mehdi Taremi scored twice before more than 36,000 spectators at the Azadi Stadium on Tuesday, helping Iran join Japan as the second team to qualify from Asia.
The Inter Milan striker scored his second goal in the 83rd minute in Tehran, giving Iran the point it needed to qualify to a fourth straight appearance at the World Cup and a seventh overall.
🇮🇷 Iran Qualifies for 2026 FIFA World Cup
— Press TV Sports (@presstvsports) March 25, 2025
Team Melli secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, two weeks before the end of the qualifiers.@presstvsports pic.twitter.com/8LR8bgw7iO
Uzbekistan, two points behind Iran in Group A with two games remaining, would have qualified for the first time with a victory and twice took the lead.
Khojimat Erkinov struck after 16 minutes but Taremi put Iran back on level terms seven minutes into the second half by firing an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.
Immediately, Abbosbek Fayzullaev restored Uzbekistan’s lead but, Taremi responded, this time from close range, to send Iran to the World Cup where it will attempt to progress past the group stages for the first time.
The 2026 tournament, which will be staged in North America, is the first to have a field of 48 teams, up from 32 in 2022.
It will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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