Is Iran out of the World Cup? Third

Is Iran out of the World Cup? Third-place standings reveal final place for Iranian national team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Iran had a controversial goal overturned against Egypt that would've won on Friday night and sent them to the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

But an offside call changed everything.

As it turns out, that was the difference between moving on and not.

It was the right call, so this isn't actually meant to be controversial. But it is particularly painful.

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Yes, Iran has been eliminated from the tournament.

Algeria looked for a moment like it had saved Iran by taking a 3-2 lead over Austria in the third minute of stoppage time on Saturday night. But then Austria equalized in the sixth minute of stoppage time, and a 3-3 draw eliminated the Iranians.

The Iranian side ended with three draws, equaling 3 points in the standings.

They were third place in their group, which in this expanded format gave them a chance to advance as a third-place team.

The eight best third-place teams go to the Round of 32.

Iran was the ninth-best third-place team.

Senegal was the only third-place team to advance with 3 points. They had a win and two losses, but their goal differential was plus-2 because their one win was a dominant one.

A team with three draws, of course, has a goal differential of zero.

So Iran, by one spot, misses out on the knockout stages.

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