The Guardian:

Iran have become the sixth team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup thanks to their 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Tuesday. Iran join Japan and New Zealand as the first countries to have punched their ticket via the usual qualification process, while co-hosts United States, Mexico and Canada qualified automatically.

Internazionale striker Mehdi Taremi was largely to thank for Team Melli’s accomplishment on Tuesday, scoring both goals in an otherwise sloppy performance from Iran. The Iranian defense let in two soft goals from Uzbekistan, who will secure their first-ever World Cup finals place with a victory in either of their two remaining qualifiers.

Tuesday’s result means Iran are guaranteed to finish in the top two of Group A in the third qualifying of AFC qualifying, earning them passage to the team’s fourth World Cup finals in a row, and seventh in their history. It stands as a major accomplishment for Iran, even as qualifying from Asia has been made easier thanks to the World Cup’s newly expanded, 48-team format.

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