Iran secures place at 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with win over Iraq
Iran got the better of bitter rivals Iraq in Tehran to become the first Asian confederation side to book their place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year.
There were 10,000 fans packed in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, with Iranian women allowed to attend for the first time in almost three years, as the Group A leaders secured victory through Mehdi Taremi’s strike.
Victory ensures that Dragan Skocic’s Iran side are now 10 points clear of third place in their Asian qualifying group, with just nine points remaining to compete for.
They first qualified in 1978 before reaching World Cups in 1998, 2006, 2014 and 2018.
So far 14 teams have sealed qualification to the finals in Qatar with Germany, Denmark, Brazil, Belgium, France, England, Croatia, Spain, Serbia, Switzerland, Holland and Argentina joining Iran and hosts Qatar.
A total of 32 nations will compete later this year for the World Cup with European play-offs still to be held and both Asian and South American qualifying reaching the penultimate rounds.
As well as the wild celebrations at the end in Tehran, which saw fireworks let off above the stadium, it was also a landmark day for female supporters of the Iranian national team.
World football’s governing body FIFA ordered Iran back in September 2019 to allow women access to stadiums without restriction.
Female fans, under the rules of the Islamic republic, have largely been kept away from stadiums and sporting events for more than 30 years.
Iranian women were allowed entry to a 2022 World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Cambodia at the Azadi Stadium back in 2019 but this represented the first match since.
As for Iraq, they remain sitting in fifth place in the qualifying table with just four points, as Iran stay top Group A with 19 points.
The only bright moment for Iraq came with less than 10 minutes to go when 18-year-old Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal came off the bench to make his international debut
