Now Reading: Iran Secures Spot in 2026 World Cup with Draw Against Uzbekistan
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Iran Secures Spot in 2026 World Cup with Draw Against Uzbekistan
The Iranian national football team has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on March 25, 2025. This marks Iran’s seventh appearance at the World Cup finals and their fourth consecutive qualification.
In the match, Iran took the lead in the 23rd minute with a goal from forward Mehdi Taremi. Uzbekistan responded with two goals, putting them ahead 2-1 by the 65th minute. However, Iran’s captain, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, equalized in the 78th minute, securing the crucial point needed for qualification.
This result places Iran second in Group A of the Asian qualifiers, joining Japan as the two teams from their group to secure automatic qualification. Head coach Dragan Skočić praised his team’s resilience and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus as they prepare for the World Cup. The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) announced plans for a series of friendly matches in the coming months to further prepare the team for the tournament.
