Football

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran Through After Uzbekistan Draw

Iran qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Mehdi Taremi scored twice in a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan. The Inter Milan striker scored his second goal in the 83rd minute on Tuesday, giving Iran the point it needed to qualify to a fourth straight appearance at the World Cup and a seventh overall. Had Uzbekistan won, they would have sealed qualification.

FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan: Mehdi Taremi
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iran's Mehdi Taremi, center, scores his side's second goal during a World Cup 2026 group A qualifying soccer match between Iran and Uzbekistan in Tehran, Iran.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan: Iranian fans
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iranian fans celebrate after their team qualified for the 2026 Soccer World Cup by winning a soccer match between Iran and Uzbekistan in Tehran, Iran.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan: Mehdi Ghayedi
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iran's Mehdi Ghayedi, right, and Uzbekistan's Hojimat Erkinov, left, challenge for the ball during their World Cup 2026 group A qualifying soccer match in Tehran, Iran.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan: Saleh Hardani
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iran's Saleh Hardani, left, passes the ball as Uzbekistan's Farrukh Sayfiev tries to defend during their World Cup 2026 group A qualifying soccer match at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan: Saeid Ezatolahi
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iran's Saeid Ezatolahi, top, goes for a header ass Uzbekistan's Umarbek Eshmurodov, second right, and his teammate Rustamjon Ashurmatov, second left, jump during their World Cup 2026 group A qualifying soccer match in Tehran, Iran.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan photo
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iranian fans follow a World Cup 2026 group A qualifying soccer match between Iran and Uzbekistan in Tehran, Iran.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan: Mehdi Taremi
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iran's Mehdi Taremi, second right, and Uzbekistan's Abdukodir Khusanov, right, challenge for the ball during a World Cup 2026 group A qualifying soccer match between Iran and Uzbekistan in Tehran, Iran.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan: Alireza Jahan Bakhsh
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iran's Alireza Jahan Bakhsh, center, plays with the ball against Uzbekistan's Otabek Shukurov as his teammate Farrukh Sayfiev, right, runs to defend during a World Cup 2026 group A qualifying soccer match at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan: Saleh Hardani
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iran's Saleh Hardani, right, controls the ball against Uzbekistan's Farrukh Sayfiev, during a World Cup 2026 group A qualifying soccer match between Iran and Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 group A Qualifiers Iran vs Uzbekistan:  Saeid Ezatolahi
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Iran vs Uzbekistan | Photo: AP/Vahid Salemi

Iran's Saeid Ezatolahi, center, and Uzbekistan's Rustamjon Ashurmatov, left, challenge for the ball during their Asian qualifier group A match for 2026 World Cup in Tehran, Iran.

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