TEHRAN: Iran confirmed their qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday as Mehdi Taremi scored a second-half double to earn his side a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan in Tehran’s Aza­di Stadium in Group ‘A’ of Asia’s preliminaries, handing organisers a likely diplomatic headache.

Needing a point to join Japan among the Asian nations at the finals, the Iranians — the second-highest ranked AFC side in the FIFA standings — twice went behind only for Inter Milan striker Taremi to rescue his team and book their ticket for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

They will, however, head to North America with relations stra­ined as US President Donald Tru­mp has linked the actions of Yem­en’s Houthi rebels to Iran, warning Tehran it would “suffer the consequences” for further atta­cks by the group. It’s unclear how the strained relations will impact the Iranian team’s preparations.

“We have to thank the fans who filled the stadium today, and thank God they did not leave empty-handed,” said Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

Hojimat Erkinov put Uzbek­istan ahead in the 16th minute, making the most of hesitation in the Iranian defence to slide his shot past Alireza Beiranvand.

But seven minutes into the second half Taremi levelled, lashing an unstoppable volley over the outstretched hand of Utkir Yusupov.

It took Uzbekistan a minute to reclaim the lead, Abbosbek Fayz­ullaev’s free kick from the left eva­ding three home defenders, who allowed the ball to bounce beyond Beiran­vand and across the line.

Taremi, however, bailed out his team again with seven minutes remaining, pouncing with his outstretched boot on a bouncing ball inside the six-yard box to score.

The point guarantees Iran one of the two automatic berths available from Group ‘A’ at the finals as Amir Ghalenoei’s side move onto 20 points from eight games, seven more than third-placed United Arab Emirates.

Iran will be appearing at a fourth successive Wo­­rld Cup and seventh in all.

Taremi expressed his “happiness” with the res­ult but admitted his team had “tactical problems” after conceding twice.

Uzbekistan remain on course for an inaugural appearance at the finals. Sitting second on 17 points, they require a win from the concluding double-header in June either away to UAE or at home to Qatar, in fourth.

The UAE needed an injury-time winner from Sultan Adil to hand North Korea a 2-1 loss in Riyadh that keeps Paulo Bento’s team four points behind Uzbekistan, with Asian champions Qatar, three points further back, out of the running for automatic qualification after their 3-1 defeat 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, with teams finishing third and fourth in the three Asian groups entering a further round of qualifying.

Iraq stay third In Group ‘B’ and one point behind second-placed Jordan, who are three off leaders South Korea,after their late 2-1 defeat by Palestine in Amman.

Aymen Hussein had given Jesus Casas’ team the lead with a 34th-minute header but Palestine equalised two minutes from time through Wessam Abou Ali before Ameed Mahajineh grabbed the winner in the 97th minute, for their first victory of the third round.

Palestine are in fifth on six points, one ahead of Kuwait follow­ing their 1-0 loss to Oman; Issam Al-Sabhi heading in the only goal to keep his side in fourth, two points behind Iraq.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2025