Iran became the second AFC team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as they are the sixth team to confirm the spot for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
2026 FIFA WC Qualification (AFC): Iran are unbeaten in both second and third rounds
While Iran still have two more matches to be played in the third round group stage of the 2026 FIFA WC Qualification (AFC), they recorded six wins and two draws to book their place for the 23rd FIFA World Cup. Their Group A opponents in the ongoing third round are Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea.
In their eighth game of the third round, Iran had a 2-2 home draw against the second-placed Uzbekistan, which was enough for the Lions of Persia to book their tickets for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. While Khojimat Erkinov (16’) and Abbosbek Saydjon oʻgʻli Fayzullaev (53’) produced two leads for the visitors, Mehdi Taremi scored both the equalizers for the hosts. In the ongoing third round group stage, Iran have conceded seven goals and scored 16 goals, including the joint leader Mohammad Mohebi’s five goals.
Iran started their 2026 FIFA WC Qualification (AFC) journey from the second round, where the Lions of Persia finished as the Group E champions with 14 points after four wins and two draws. Although Uzbekistan also had the same points, Iran had a stronger goal difference with 16 goals and four conceded (+12) than White Wolves (+9). The other two teams in Group E of the second round were Turkmenistan and Hong Kong. The Lions of Persia thrashed Hong Kong and Turkmenistan at home by 4-0 and 5-0, respectively. In that second round, Mehdi Taremi was Iran’s leading goal-scorer with five goals.
Iran: 2nd AFC team to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026
After Japan, Iran became the second team from the AFC to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
It is the seventh time that Iran have qualified for the FIFA World Cup, the fourth consecutive time since 2014.
Iran in the FIFA World Cup
In their six FIFA World Cup edition appearances, Iran never crossed the group stages. They have won three out of 18 FIFA World Cup matches, once each in the last two editions (2018 and 2022), but never more than one victory in an edition.