Uzbekistan holds Iran to a draw despite playing with a one-man advantage

In the 3rd round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Uzbekistan’s national football team faced off against Iran, a fellow group leader with 6 points. The match between these two top teams was fiercely competitive, with the first half ending in a goalless draw despite several scoring opportunities.

The second half continued with both teams battling for control. In the 57th minute, Iranian player Hardani committed a rough foul on Uzbek captain Eldor Shomurodov. After reviewing the incident with the help of VAR, the referee issued a red card, reducing Iran to 10 players.

In the first minute of stoppage time, the ball hit Rustam Ashurmatov in Uzbekistan's penalty area, and the referee initially awarded a penalty to Iran. However, after another consultation with VAR, the penalty decision was overturned. The match concluded with a 0-0 scoreline.

With this draw, Uzbekistan now leads the group with 7 points.