Iran bow out of World Cup: Late drama ends Team Melli’s knockout dream
Key takeaways
- Austria’s 3-3 draw with Algeria ultimately decides Iran’s fate as Team Melli crash out of the 2026 World Cup.
- Amir Ghalenoei’s side completed their Group G campaign on Friday with a 1-1 draw against Egypt, leaving them waiting to discover on Saturday whether three points would be enough to earn a spot in the round of 32.
- Iran had already endured one major setback when a stoppage-time winner against Egypt was ruled out for offside.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Austria’s 3-3 draw with Algeria ultimately decides Iran’s fate as Team Melli crash out of the 2026 World Cup.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Iran's Alireza Beiranvand and Ehsan Hajsafi applaud fans after their 1-1 draw with Egypt [Steven Bisig/Imagn Images via Reuters]By Reuters Published On 28 Jun 202628 Jun 2026Iran’s hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout phase for the first time came to an agonising end after Austria’s last-gasp equaliser against Algeria left them outside the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams.
Amir Ghalenoei’s side completed their Group G campaign on Friday with a 1-1 draw against Egypt, leaving them waiting to discover on Saturday whether three points would be enough to earn a spot in the round of 32.