In Tehran, the men’s national football team snatched the pass for the review in Qatar: there were also many fans in the stands after three years
It is a historic day in Tehran, that of Thursday 27 January. Iran managed to overtake Iraq 1-0 and qualify for the sixth time in the finals of the World Cup, which this year will be played in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December. The third consecutive participation after those of 2014 and 2018. It is the first country in the Asian area to win a place in the tournament, among the 14 that have already made it, in addition, of course, to the hosts to whom a pass it is by right. But history is also made in the stands of the Azadi stadium, not just on the grass, where ten thousand people were admitted. And where, for the first time in three years, women (2,000, as many as the tickets reserved for them) can return to attend a match. So much joy in their faces, between songs, jolts and waving flags.
Perfect path
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Decisive, three minutes into the second half, was a goal from Mehdi Taremi, a 29-year-old forward who plays for Porto. It is he who signs the victory against the rivals of Iraq and consolidates the primacy of Iran in group A of the third phase of the qualifications of the Asia zone. A group in which Dragan Skočić’s national team is unbeaten after seven games. Six wins and a single draw, against South Korea, which is in second place with 17 points, two less than Iran, one step away from qualification. Almost unattainable for the United Arab Emirates, which occupy the third position with 9 points when there are three games missing. In group B, on the other hand, Saudi Arabia (19 points), Japan (15) and Australia (14) win: the three of them play for two tickets for Qatar.
January 27 – 9pm
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