Iran has secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Tuesday. The result guarantees Iran’s participation in the tournament for the fourth consecutive time and the seventh time overall.
The match saw an early breakthrough for Uzbekistan when Khojimat Erkinov found the net in the 16th minute, giving the visitors an advantage. However, Iran responded strongly in the second half. Striker Mehdi Taremi, who plays for Inter Milan, equalized in the 52nd minute, reigniting hopes for the home side.
Uzbekistan quickly regained the lead just a minute later, with Abbosbek Fayzullaev scoring to put his team ahead once more. But Iran refused to back down. With just seven minutes left on the clock, Taremi struck again, securing the crucial point Iran needed to confirm their qualification for the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
After the match, Taremi shared his thoughts on the performance, expressing joy over the qualification but acknowledging that the team had some “tactical problems” after conceding twice. Iran’s captain, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, also showed appreciation for the home supporters, stating, “We have to thank the fans who filled the stadium today, and thank God they did not leave empty-handed.”
Iran currently leads Group A in the Asian qualifiers with 20 points, sitting three points ahead of Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan still has a chance to qualify, depending on the outcome of the match between the United Arab Emirates and North Korea later in the day.
With the 2026 World Cup expanding to 48 teams, Iran joins Japan and New Zealand, as well as the host nations, in securing their spot in the prestigious tournament.
