March 26 – Iran have become the second Asian team to clinch World Cup qualification following a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan.
The Iranians were held to a draw as Inter striker Mehdi Taremi got two second-half goals, but it was enough to confirm their spot at the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada. They join the three hosts as well as Japan and New Zealand as finalists.
The result ensures that Iran, who earned 19 out of a possible 21 points, will finish in the top two of Group A in the third round of qualifying in Asia. It’s the fourth consecutive time and the seventh time overall that Team Melli will feature at the tournament.
It’s also the second time that Iran have reached the finals under the guidance of a local coach. Previously, that feat had only been achieved by Heshmat Mohajerani.
At the last World Cup in Qatar, Iran, led by Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz, defeated Wales 2-0, but defeats against England and the US prompted a first-round exit. They have never made it out of the group stages.
The team’s 2022 campaign was overshadowed by protests at home following the death of Mahsa Amini. Iran’s participation at the 2026 tournament with the United States staging the bulk of the games will also be fraught with complications.
The Donald Trump administration is considering a partial or complete bans on citizens of Iran entering the United States. Iran is listed among a group of ten countries, including Afghanistan, Syria, Cuba and North Korea, that would be set for a full visa suspension. Iran’s matches will almost certainly be scheduled in the United States. The third-seeded team in Group A allows that side to play all of its matches outside the United States.
The New York Times has reported that the Trump administration is applying ‘enhanced vetting’ to broaden the scope of their immigration crackdown to legal immigrants and tourists, raising further questions over how those policies will affect fans, media, supporters, teams and other stakeholders travelling for the 2026 World Cup. FIFA have been contacted for comment but failed to respond.
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