Anna 
Iran became the second Asian nation to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan in Tehran on Tuesday. The result ensures Iran’s seventh appearance at the tournament, joining Japan as the first two Asian teams to qualify for the event in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A Tough Battle in Tehran
Playing in front of a packed Azadi Stadium, Iran had to come from behind twice to earn the crucial point needed for qualification. Uzbekistan, seeking their first-ever World Cup appearance, took the lead in the 16th minute through Khojimat Erkinov. However, Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi equalized shortly after halftime.
Parity was short-lived, as Abbosbek Fayzullaev restored Uzbekistan’s lead just one minute later. But Taremi once again delivered for Iran, scoring seven minutes from full-time to secure the draw and a World Cup berth.
Post-Match Reactions
Iran’s captain, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, thanked the passionate home crowd for their support. Meanwhile, Taremi, despite his two-goal performance, admitted that the team still had “tactical problems” after conceding twice.
Uzbekistan’s Qualification Hopes Still Alive
Despite missing the chance to qualify directly, Uzbekistan remains in a strong position. They sit second in Group A with 17 points and can book their first-ever World Cup spot with a win in June against either third-placed UAE or fourth-placed Qatar.
Their qualification could be confirmed even sooner if the UAE, currently tied with Qatar on 10 points, loses to bottom-placed North Korea in their upcoming match.
Asian Qualification Format
The top two teams from each of the three final-round groups qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup. Teams finishing third and fourth will move into an additional round of playoffs for a chance to secure their place at the tournament.
Related topics: