Jakarta, ThedailyID — Iran suffered a dramatic exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Austria scored a stoppage-time equalizer against Algeria, denying Team Melli a place in the Round of 32.
Iran entered the final round of group-stage matches with hopes of advancing as one of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams. To qualify, Team Melli needed either Algeria or Austria to win their Group J clash.
Instead, the match ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw.
Iran’s hopes briefly soared in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez put his team ahead 3-2. Mahrez scored after connecting with a pass from Houssem Aouar, a result that would have sent Iran into the knockout stage.
However, Austria responded just two minutes later.
Sasa Kalajdzic headed home an equalizer in the sixth minute of added time, sealing a 3-3 draw and ending Iran’s World Cup campaign.
The result lifted Algeria to four points and secured its place among the tournament’s best third-placed teams. Iran finished with three points after drawing all three of its group matches.
Meanwhile, Austria also advanced after finishing second in Group J with four points. Argentina topped the group with a perfect nine points.
Iran’s qualification hopes had already depended on results elsewhere before kickoff.
Team Melli needed at least one favorable outcome from three matches. Ghana had to beat Croatia, Uzbekistan needed to avoid defeat against Congo, or the Algeria-Austria match had to produce a winner.
None of those scenarios materialized.
Iran also came within moments of securing qualification in its own final group match against Egypt.
Shojae Khalilzadeh thought he had scored a stoppage-time winner in the 92nd minute. However, the referee disallowed the goal after a VAR review confirmed he was offside.
Iran’s tournament also unfolded against the backdrop of diplomatic tensions with the United States, one of the tournament’s host nations.
Iranian officials previously complained about what they described as unfair treatment after the team’s arrival in the United States, citing ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two countries.
