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.
Needing a point to join Japan among the Asian nations at the finals, the Iranians 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.
Hojimat Erkinov put Uzbekistan ahead in the 16th minute, making the most of hesitation in the Iranian defense 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 UAE.
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Uzbekistan remain in second place on 17 points while 10-man Qatar slipped to a 3-1 loss to Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek to sit in fourth.
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.
The UAE, meanwhile, needed an injury-time winner from Sultan Adil to hand the Democratic People's Republic of Korea a 2-1 loss in Riyadh that keeps Paulo Bento's team in third. Saudi Arabia were held to a 0-0 draw by already-qualified Japan at Saitama Stadium.
There was more frustration for Group B leaders the Republic of Korea, who drew 1-1 against Jordan in Suwon, the third time Hong Myung-bo's side have shared the points at home in the current phase of qualifying.
Lee Jae-sung put the hosts in front after five minutes but Mahmoud Al-Mardi's deflected strike in the 30th minute earned Jordan a draw.
The result takes the ROK to 16 points, three ahead of Jordan with third-placed Iraq a further point behind after their late 2-1 defeat by Palestine.
Aymen Hussein had given Jesus Casas's team the lead with a 34th-minute header but injury-time goals from Wessam Abou Ali and Ameed Mahajineh secured Palestine's first win of the current round of qualifiers.
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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.
