On Tuesday, 11 June, as part of the 6th round of the World Cup 2026 qualifying tournament, Iran will face Uzbekistan. Both teams have accrued 13 points from five matches, but Iran holds a slight edge due to their goal difference.
The match will take place at Azadi Stadium in Tehran.
Failing to reach the World Cup 2022 playoffs, the Iranian national team has won all their friendly matches since then. However, they faced disappointment at the Asian Cup last winter: after defeating tournament favourite Japan in the quarter-finals, the Persian Lions fell to Qatar (2:3 in the semi-final). Now, they are on their way to returning to the Mundial finals, and a draw on Tuesday would be enough to secure the top spot in the qualifying group.
Last Thursday, Iran achieved another success in their away match against Hong Kong thanks to a hat-trick from Mehdi Taremi and a strike from Sardar Azmoun (2:4). It's worth noting that the tricolour team has avoided defeats in each of their last 21 home World Cup qualifying matches. Moreover, Iran has conceded just two goals in their last three games, keeping two clean sheets.
There’s a feeling that Uzbekistan might not be far from making history by qualifying for their first World Cup. Indeed, this team has been gaining momentum in recent years, and should the visitors succeed in Tehran on Tuesday evening, they could claim the top spot in Group E. In the qualifying tournament, the Uzbeks have secured four victories over the weaker Turkmenistan and Hong Kong while drawing 2:2 with Iran in the first round.
Last week, Srecko Katanec's side defeated Turkmenistan at home, with Husniddin Alikulov, Oston Uronov, and Sherzod Nasrullaev scoring. At the recent Asian Cup, the visitors reached the quarter-finals but were eventually defeated by Qatar (on penalties), the same fate as Iran. It is worth noting that Uzbekistan performs quite well on foreign territory, having won six of their last eight away matches in all competitions.
The visitors have not beaten Iran since their 1:0 victory in November 2012. The first-round duel ended in a 2:2 draw.
Given that both teams have 13 points, the head-to-head clash on Tuesday is expected to be tense. The home crowd support can be a significant advantage, and here Iran's superiority is undeniable. Given the hosts' recent home performances, it’s sensible to bet on their hard-fought victory.
Both sides have exchanged goals in two of their last three encounters. With formidable attacking lines led by Azmoun and Shomurodov, we can confidently bet on both to score.
As the rightful hosts, Iran will likely hold the advantage and play the first number, while the visitors are expected to focus on counter-attacks. Bet on a victory for the tricolours on corners.
Both teams are vying for the top spot in the group and will give all they've got on the field. Bet on the total number of yellow cards to be more than 3.5.
I predict a 2:1 victory for the Iranian national team.
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