Iran the first Asian team to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup™

Monday’s 2-0 win over Uzbekistan secured their place at Russia 2018

This is the fifth qualification to the global finals for Team Melli

Iran became the first team from Asia to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ after a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Monday evening.

Sardar Azmoun’s first-half goal set the Iranians on their way to victory at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, with Mehdi Taremi sealing qualification with a late second goal.

The result ensures Team Melli will be one of two teams to be heading to Russia 2018 from Group A of the third round of Asian zone qualifying. Carlos Queiroz’s side move on to 20 points at the top of the group after eight rounds of matches, eight points clear of third-place Uzbekistan, who are unable to catch the Iranians with their two remaining qualifiers in the group.

This is the fifth qualification to the global finals for Iran, having previously appeared at football’s showpiece event in 1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014. They join hosts Russia and five-time World Cup winners Brazil in securing their spot for next June.</s>Iran have become the second team to advance through qualifying to reach the 2018 World Cup finals after a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in Tehran.

Goals from Sardar Kazmoun and Mehdi Taremi earned a victory which secures the Iranians top spot in Asian qualifying group A with two games still to go.

Led by former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz, Iran booked their place in next year's finals alongside Brazil and hosts Russia.

Kazmoun opened the scoring in the 23rd minute and then produced the cross from which Taremi sealed the victory in injury time.

It marks the fifth time Iran have qualified for the World Cup finals and the first time they have achieved the feat twice in succession.</s>Iran have become the second team to advance through qualifying to reach the 2018 World Cup finals after a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in Tehran.

Goals from Sardar Kazmoun and Mehdi Taremi earned a victory which secures the Iranians top spot in Asian qualifying group A with two games still to go.

Led by former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz, Iran booked their place in next year’s finals alongside Brazil and hosts Russia. Kazmoun opened the scoring in the 23rd minute and then produced the cross from which Taremi sealed the victory in injury time.

 It marks the fifth time Iran have qualified for the World Cup finals and the first time they have achieved the feat twice in succession. Have you read Trendiee Today? Click here to read

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Also, Like us on facebook</s>Tehran, June 13: Number 1 Asian team Iran became the second team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018 after beating Uzbekistan 2-0 here.

It will be Iran's fifth appearance at soccer's premier tournament, reports Xinhua news agency.

Sardar Azmoun scored in the 23rd minute and Mehdi Taremi added the second goal in the 88th minute at the Azadi Stadium here on Monday night.

The win means Iran -- coached by former Real Madrid and Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz -- will finish among the top two places in Group A of Asia's final round of qualifying.

Uzbekistan are eight points behind top-placed Iran at the third spot and have only two games remaining.

The top two teams in each of Asia's two qualifying groups advance automatically to the finals while the teams in third place go through a series of play-offs.

South Korea are in second place in Group A, a point ahead of Uzbekistan with a game in hand.

Brazil were the first team to qualify for next year's World Cup to be held in Russia.</s>TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran became the second team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup by beating Uzbekistan 2-0 on Monday.

It is the first time Iran has qualified for consecutive World Cups, and will be its fifth appearance in total.

Sardar Azmoun scored in the 23rd minute and Mehdi Taremi in the 88th at Azadi Stadium in Tehran.

Iran, managed by former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz since 2011, tops Group A of Asian qualifying. The team is eight points clear of third-placed Uzbekistan with two qualifying games left out of 10, so cannot be denied a top-two finish.

South Korea is in second place, a point ahead of Uzbekistan with a game in hand. Iran will finish top of the group.

Iran has yet to concede a goal in qualifying.

Brazil was the first team to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi were on target as Iran confirmed their spot in the 2018 World Cup finals with a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Monday.

It was Iran's sixth win from eight matches in Group A which took the table-toppers to 20 points, while South Korea are second on 13 ahead of their match against Qatar on Tuesday.

Iran are still unbeaten in the third stage of qualifying and amazingly have not conceded a single goal during the campaign, thus underlining their credentials as one of Asia's football giants.

On Monday, they recorded their second win over Uzbekistan on the road to Russia, with Rostov forward Azmoun first finding the net in the 23rd minute with a right-footed shot from the left of the box following a through ball from Alireza Jahanbaksh.

Iran were clearly the dominant side in front of their home fans and could have easily emerged winners with an even more impressive scoreline but for some lackluster finishing.

In the 48th minute Taremi drew a foul from Akmal Shorakhmedov, but Masoud Shojaei fired the resulting penalty high over the crossbar.

The Uzbeks struggled for momentum and failed to break down the famed Iranian defense, eventually conceding their second goal of the match in the 88th minute with Taremi finishing from Azmoun's pass.

Iran have played in the World Cup finals four times in the past – in 1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014 – while Uzbekistan are still seeking their first ever qualification.

Samvel Babayan's men, who have 12 points from eight matches, are not yet out of contention for an automatic place but will have to win their remaining two matches and hope other results go in their favor.

Iran join hosts Russia and five-time champions Brazil in securing a place for the tournament which runs from June 14 to July 15, 2018.</s>TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran became the second team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup by beating Uzbekistan 2-0 late Monday, sparking celebrations in the streets.

It is the first time Iran has qualified for consecutive World Cups, and will be its fifth appearance at soccer’s marquee tournament.

Sardar Azmoun scored in the 23rd minute and Mehdi Taremi in the 88th at Azadi Stadium in Tehran.

Iran, managed by former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz since 2011, tops Group A of Asian qualifying. The team is unbeaten from eight games and eight points clear of third-placed Uzbekistan with two qualifiers remaining, so cannot be denied a top-two finish and an automatic spot in Russia next year.

South Korea is in second place, a point ahead of Uzbekistan with a game in hand.

Iran has yet to concede a goal in qualifying in a run which has renewed the confidence with fans.

Vice-president Eshaq Jahangiri was present at the stadium for the game, among the almost 60,000 supporters celebrating when the referee blew full-time.

The Iranian players celebrated with the national flag, broadcast live on TV with a rousing soundtrack. Men, woman and children spilled into the streets with flags and chants and motorists honked their horns.

In the main streets and squares Tehrani residents gathered and chanted “Queiroz, we love you,” and “Queiroz, thank you.”

Ashkan Kasraeian drove with his wife and friends to be part of the celebrations.

“I came out to join this national celebration,” he said. “I am proud of my national football team and I love Carlos Queiroz.”

He said he hopes Iran will retain Queiroz has head coach even after the World Cup.

Brazil was the first team to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia, and Iran represents the first of four automatic qualifiers from Asia.

Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa praised the consistency of the Iran team.

“I hope their qualification for the FIFA World Cup will inspire the team to do Asia proud next year in Russia,” Sheikh Salman said.

The top two teams in both Asian groups will qualify automatically for Russia, and the two third-place teams going into a series of playoffs for another spot.

South Korea was targeting a win over Qatar on Tuesday to solidify second spot in the group. Group B leader Japan was also playing in Tehran, the neutral venue for Iraq’s scheduled home game.</s>Iran will play Uzbekistan in Tehran with an opportunity to secure a spot in the 2018 World Cup football tournament in Russia.

The June 12 match will be held at Azadi Stadium before an expected 100,000 fans.

Iran, led by former Real Madrid and Portugal Coach Carlos Queiroz, is unbeaten in its first seven qualifying matches in Group A in the Asian region.

"We know there is still work to do, but we have worked hard to get in a good position," Queiroz told the Associated Press. "We don't always have the same preparations that other big Asian countries have so it will be a great achievement to make it to the World Cup

 again."

"It will not be easy against Uzbekistan, but we hope we can do it," Queiroz said.

Uzbekistan is in third place in Group A and would still have a chance to qualify with an upset victory over Iran.

The top two teams in each group advance to the World Cup. The two third-place finishers enter a playoff series for a chance to qualify.

Based on reporting by AP and Tasnim News Agency</s>Iran target new ground after qualifying for 2018 World Cup

Iran became the second side to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan on Monday.

Iran winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh has targeted a run to the knockout rounds of the 2018 World Cup after qualification was assured on Monday.

A 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan made Iran the first side from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to book their ticket to Russia, where they will join the hosts and Brazil - the only other side to make it so far.

Qualification made Carlos Queiroz's vintage the first Iran side to make consecutive World Cups and AZ player Jahanbakhsh has targeted more history-making in 12 months' time.

"Now we've got to the World Cup but first we've got two games left and we want to finish top of the group, so for the last two matches we go 100 per cent," Jahanbakhsh is quoted as saying by the AFC website.

"We have a really young team and after the next two games we're going to try and build the team spirit even more because we know the World Cup will be a big difference from qualification.

"Next year everyone has one more year of experience. We're going to do our best and the goal will be to make it to the second round of the World Cup.

"[Brazil] was a great experience, but I joined the team after they had qualified.

"But this time I've been here since the beginning and it's a great feeling to win a lot of games without conceding, so I think it was the best qualification ever for our country.

"In 2014 it was a great experience, at the age of 19 I was playing at the World Cup and it was unbelievable, and now it's the second time so hopefully it'll be even better for us."

Iran finish their qualifying campaign with a trip to South Korea and a home clash with Syria.</s>Iran is second after Brazil.

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In association football, Iran becomes the second team to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after Brazil, and the first Asian side, by defeating Uzbekistan.