Why it matters:
The draw guaranteed Iran's place in the tournament. The achievement highlights Iran's strong presence in international football and boosts national pride while also shaping the competition's dynamics for other teams in the qualifiers.
The big picture:
As Iran was going to lose the match against Uzbekistan 2-1, Mahdi Taremi brought back Iran's team to a fresh spirt of victory with the goal he scored in the second half, in minute 83. Taremi also scored the first goal for Iran in the early minutes of the first half.
What he's saying:
"Uzbekistan is a well-organized and quality team that has invested in youth teams over the past decade. Every match for the national team is a final, and we should not think about qualification," the Iranian head coach said on Monday.
Go deeper:
Iran vs. Uzbekistan Tonight: Crucial Battle in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
seyed mohammad kazemi
