Iran has officially secured its place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a thrilling draw against Uzbekistan in the AFC Qualifiers.
The highly anticipated tournament will take place next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams from around the world. Various continental qualifying rounds are currently underway to determine the teams that will compete in the mega event.
On Tuesday, Iran played against Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran in a crucial Group A qualifier. The match ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, which was enough for Iran to book its spot in the upcoming World Cup. Iran only needed a draw to confirm its qualification, and they achieved it in style.
During the match, Uzbekistan took an early lead in the 16th minute through Kojimat’s goal. However, in the second half, Iran’s Mehdi Taremi equalized the score. Just a minute later, Uzbekistan regained the lead with a goal from Abosbek. The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute when Mehdi Taremi once again found the net, leveling the score at 2-2 and ensuring Iran’s qualification.
With this achievement, Iran has now qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the fourth consecutive time and the seventh time in its history.
In the third round of the AFC Qualifiers, 18 teams were divided into three groups, with the top two teams from each group earning a direct spot in the World Cup. Japan and New Zealand have already qualified, along with host nations the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
