Iran seal World Cup qualification as Taremi double earns draw

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS OF IRAN AND UZBEKISTAN DRAWING 2-2 IN THE THIRD ROUND OF ASIAN QUALIFYING FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT

SHOWS: TEHRAN, IRAN (MARCH 25 2025) (AFC - See restrictions before use)

1. SQUADS WALKING OUT

2. UZBEKISTAN FANS WITH FLAGS IN THE STANDS

3. IRAN FANS WITH FLAGS

4. OFFICIALS AND CAPTAINS BEFORE START OF MATCH

FIRST HALF

5. IRAN HAVE A CHANCE OFF A CORNER, BUT WINGER ALIREZA JAHANBAKHSH’S HEADER IS SAVED BY UZBEKISTAN GOALKEEPER, UTKIR YUSUPOV

6. REPLAY OF SAVE

7. GOAL! (16’) UZBEKISTAN WINGER, KHOJIMAT ERKINOV, PICKS UP A PASS AND SCORES FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE GOAL AREA TO PUT UZBEKISTAN UP 1-0

8. REPLAY OF GOAL

9. IRAN HAVE A CHANCE, BUT FORWARD, SARDAR AZMOUN, GOES JUST WIDE OF AN OPEN GOAL

10. AZMOUN

11. REPLAY OF MISSED CHANCE

SECOND HALF

12. GOAL! (52’) BEAUTIFUL FOOTWORK BY AZMOUN AS HE FINDS IRAN FORWARD, MEHDI TAREMI, WHO SENDS IN A HIGH GOAL OVER THE KEEPER TO LEVEL AT 1-1

13. TAREMI CELEBRATING

14. VARIOUS (2) REPLAYS OF GOAL

15. GOAL! (53’) UZBEKISTAN MIDFIELDER, ABBOSBEK FAYZULLAEV, TAKES A FREE KICK AND SENDS IT IN FROM LONG RAGE TO PUT UZBEKISTAN UP 2-1

16. REPLAY OF GOAL

17. IRAN HAVE A CHANCE, BUT A HEADER BY AZMOUN IS SAVED BY THE GOALKEEPER AND THE BALL IS CLEARED BY UZBEKISTAN DEFENDER, RUSTAM ASHURMATOV

18. GOAL! (83’) IRAN WINGER, ALI GHOLIZADEH, PUTS UP A CROSS AND IT IS FINISHED OFF BY TAREMI TO EQUALIZE AT 2-2

19. TAREMI CELEBRATING

20. VARIOUS (2) REPLAYS OF GOAL

21. TAREMI AT FULLTIME

22. IRANIAN FLAGS WAVING

23. AZMOUN AT FULLTIME

24. IRANIAN FLAGS ON PITCH

25. IRAN PLAYERS HOISTING GOALKEEPER, ALIREZA BEIRANVAND, INTO THE AIR

STORY: Iran confirmed their qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday (March 25) 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 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, 10 more than third-placed UAE, who face North Korea later on Tuesday.

Uzbekistan remain in second place on 17 points.

(Production: Kurt Michael Hall)