Iran have been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, missing the 32-team knockout stages by one spot in heartbreaking fashion.
It appeared Iran would advance as one of the top eight third-place teams among the 12 four-team groups in the competition after Algeria took a 3-2 lead over Austria in stoppage time on Saturday night in Group J play. But Austria equalized seconds later on the match’s final play, securing second place in the group and dropping Algeria to third.
The point Algeria picked up for the draw gave them four for the tournament, one more than Iran gained in their three matches in Group G, and dropped Iran to the ninth spot among the third place teams, one shy of making the round of 32.
It’s been a difficult World Cup for the Iranians, with the ongoing war between the US and Iran forcing multiple difficulties on Team Melli. Some members of the team’s traveling delegation did not receiving visas to enter the United States, and the team was forced to enter the US from Mexico a day before each of their first two games and then had to leave almost immediately afterward.
The US government eventually softened its stance, allowing the Iranians to enter the US two days before their third group stage match, in which they tied Egypt, their third tie in three games.
