Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada after its 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan on Tuesday in Tehran, during the Asia zone qualifications. Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi, marked twice in the second half (52 and 83rd), to tear off the draw and allow the Iranians, at the head of group A, to qualify for the fourth consecutive time for a final phase of the World Cup.
Iran, the second Asian country in the FIFA (21st) and second ranking and second to win its ticket for the 2026 World Cup after Japan (19th), is a regular participant of the World Cup final phases (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022). This time he will go to North America in a geopolitical context that is always very tense with the United States.
The two countries met during the World Cup in Qatar on November 29, 2022 and the United States had won 1-0. Revenge after the Iranian victory during the World 1998 in France (2-1). Tuesday at the Azadi stadium in Tehran, the Uzbeks players led twice to the score thanks to Hojimat Erkino (16th) and Abboslek Fayzullaev (53rd) before being joined.
The 6 countries already guaranteed to be at the 2026 World Cup
- United States, Canada, Mexico (host country)
- New Zealand, Japan, Iran (qualified)
Uzbekistan, second in group A with 17 points, three units from Iran, remains in the race for its first qualification for a World Cup. He is seven points ahead of the United Arab Emirates, who played in North Korea on Tuesday. Two days before the end of qualifications within group A, a water defeat would validate the qualification of Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
The first two of each group qualify directly for the World Cup, while the teams classified third and fourth of the three Asian groups will play another qualification lap.