FIFA World Cup 2026:
Iran to play Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan in first qualifying group
Iran will begin its quest for a fourth successive berth in the World Cup finals in Group E of the preliminary round in Asia – also featuring Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
The draw for the continent’s Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 took place in the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, where 36 teams were divided into nine groups.
Iran’s campaign will kick off at home against either Hong Kong or Bhutan on November 16, before Amir Qalenoei’s side plays away to Uzbekistan five days later.
The final day of the group fixtures will see Iran host Uzbekistan on June 11, 2024.
The newly-expanded World Cup – set to be staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico – will see 48 teams participate in the flagship event of the International football, with eight and a half slots on offer for the Asian Football Confederation’s member states.
All nine group winners and runners-up will advance to the third round of the Asian qualifiers, while sealing a place at the Asian Cup.
The 18 teams will be split into three groups of six, competing in a home-and-away round-robin format from September 5 next year.
The top two of each group will be rewarded with direct qualification for the World Cup while the third and fourth teams will be given a second chance in the fourth round of the qualifiers, where the top team of each of the three-team groups will progress to the global showpiece.
The two second-placed sides in the fourth round will go head-to-head in a two-legged tie in November 2025 to decide who will head into the inter-confederation playoffs.
Saudi task
Meanwhile, the draw for the football contests at the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, was held by the organizing committee of the event and Iran’s under-23 team was pitted against Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Mongolia in Group B.
The competition – starting four days before the Games’ opening ceremony on September 23 – will come as a perfect preparation for Reza Enayati’s men ahead of their bid for a place in next year’s Paris Olympics.
The host country, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and India are in Group A, with Uzbekistan, Syria, and Afghanistan squaring off in Group C.
Group D comprises three teams – Qatar, Japan, and Palestine – while in Group E Thailand, South Korea, Bahrain, and Kuwait will battle it out for a place in the knockout phase.
Group F will feature North Korea, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and the Chinese Taipei.
The top two of each group plus four of the best third-placed teams will advance to the round of 16.
Iran is a four-time champion at the Asian Games, having last won the gold medal in Busan, South Korea, in 2022.