In a thrilling encounter at Tehran's Azadi Stadium, Iran secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup by battling to a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan on March 25, 2025. This result not only marked Iran's qualification for their fourth consecutive World Cup but also underscored the complexities of international relations that come with it, as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.
Mehdi Taremi was the star of the night, scoring both goals for Iran, which allowed them to clinch one of the two automatic berths available from Asian qualifying Group A. Taremi's performance was crucial, especially as he equalized twice after Uzbekistan took the lead on two occasions. The match saw Uzbekistan's Khojimat Erkinov open the scoring in the 16th minute, only for Taremi to respond shortly after halftime. However, Uzbekistan's Abbosbek Fayzullaev restored their lead just a minute later, before Taremi struck again in the dying minutes of the game to secure a draw.
"We have to thank the fans who filled the stadium today, and thank God they did not leave empty-handed," said Iran's captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh, reflecting the importance of the support from the home crowd.
With this draw, Iran now sits atop Group A with 20 points from eight matches, while Uzbekistan trails with 17 points. The UAE, meanwhile, kept their hopes alive with a late 2-1 victory over North Korea, thanks to an injury-time goal from Sultan Adil. This victory places the UAE third in the group, with 13 points, while Qatar's struggles continued as they fell 3-1 to Kyrgyzstan.
In Group C, Australia boosted their chances of automatic qualification by defeating China 2-0 in Hangzhou. The Socceroos' goals came from Jackson Irvine and Nishan Velupillay, both of whom scored in the first half, allowing Australia to consolidate their second place in the group with 13 points, three ahead of Saudi Arabia, who managed to hold Japan to a goalless draw.
Australia's victory was their second in a row during this qualifying window, following a commanding 5-1 win over Indonesia. The Socceroos now look ahead to their final qualifiers in June, where they will host Japan and travel to Saudi Arabia, both crucial matches that will determine their fate in the competition.
Meanwhile, South Korea's qualifying campaign faced more challenges as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Jordan. Lee Jae-sung gave South Korea an early lead, but Jordan equalized through a deflected shot by Mahmoud Al-Mardi. This result leaves South Korea at the top of Group B with 16 points, but their inability to secure wins at home could jeopardize their chances as they head into the final matches.
Iraq also faced disappointment, losing 2-1 to Palestine in a match that saw them concede two late goals after initially taking the lead. Palestine's victory marked a significant moment for them, as it was their first win in the current round of qualifiers.
In other matches, Oman secured a 1-0 win over Kuwait, with Issam Al-Sabhi scoring the only goal, while Indonesia moved up to fourth place in Group C with a 1-0 victory against Bahrain, courtesy of a goal from Oxford United forward Ole Romeny.
The road to the World Cup continues to be a politically charged affair, especially for Iran, which will have to navigate its relations with the United States as they prepare for the tournament. The prospect of playing matches in the U.S. adds a layer of complexity to their participation, with the Iranian team set to face scrutiny not just for their performance on the pitch but also for the political implications of their presence.
As the qualifying rounds draw to a close, the stakes are higher than ever for teams across Asia. With only a handful of matches left, the race for World Cup spots is heating up, and fans are eagerly anticipating the outcomes. The excitement is palpable, and with every game, the dreams of nations hang in the balance.
