Iran have become the third nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals, joining Japan and New Zealand in booking a place after a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
The trio join co-hosts United States, Canada and Mexico with another 42 places at the hugely-expanded finals still to be filled.
The schedule means the Islamic Republic will play at least one match in its geo-political rival the United States.
Mehdi Taremi scored a second-half double, twice equalising for Iran after Hojimat Erkinov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev had scored for the visitors.
Taremi’s second came seven minutes from time, the Inter Milan striker scoring from close-range to launch celebrations.
The point guarantees Iran one of the two automatic berths available from Asian qualifying third round Group A as Amir Ghalenoei’s side move onto 20 points from eight games, 10 more than third-placed UAE, who face North Korea later on Tuesday.
Uzbekistan remain in second place on 17 points while 10-man Qatar slipped to a 3-1 loss to Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek. Aleksandr Mishchenko and Alimardon Shukurov scored to seal the win that kept alive Kyrgyzstan’s slim hopes of a place in the next phase of preliminaries.
The top two finishers in each of Asia’s preliminary groups advance directly to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with the teams in third and fourth progressing to another round of qualifiers.
In Group B South Korea’s struggles on home soil continued as Hong Myung-bo’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Jordan in Suwon.
There was more frustration for the Koreans, who drew at home for the third time in the current phase of qualifying but continue to lead the Group.
Lee Jae-sung put the hosts in front after five minutes but Jordan were level by the half-hour mark when Mahmoud Al-Mardi’s shot was deflected in off the back of Korean defender Kwon Kyung-won.
The result moves South Korea to 16 points, three ahead of Jordan with third-placed Iraq a further point behind ahead of their meeting with Palestine later on Tuesday. Kuwait will face Oman in the same group.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/soccer/iran-book-spot-at-2026-world-cup-with-late-equaliser-c-18160668
