Iran will kick off the third phase of 2026 World Cup qualifying when they welcome Kyrgyzstan to Folad Shahr Stadium on Thursday. The two countries are competing in Group A alongside Qatar, United Arab Emirates, North Korea and Uzbekistan.
Iran have made a habit of appearing at World Cups, having reached each of the last three finals since they missed out on the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Team Melli began their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in the second round, taking 14 points from six matches to finish top of Group E ahead of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Hong Kong.
Iran have ultimately proven to be a tough team to beat under Amir Ghalenoei, who has overseen 18 wins, four draws and just one defeat in his second stint in charge of the national side. Having put together a four-game unbeaten run, Team Melli will look to continue that run in their meeting with Kyrgyzstan since recording a 5-1 victory at the 2023 CAFA Nations Cup.
The hosts will be confident of claiming another positive result in Thursday's fixture, having avoided defeat in each of their last 22 World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan are competing in the third stage after finishing in second position and one point better off than Malaysia in the second round.
After losing 4-3 in their opening qualifying game against Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan went on to record three consecutive victories, including back-to-back wins over Chinese Taipei. They went on to play out back-to-back 1-1 draws against Malaysia and Oman to clinch a top-two spot and keep their hopes alive of reaching the World Cup for the first time. Having made it to the third stage, Kyrgyzstan will now be dreaming of securing automatic qualification via a top-two finish or at least a third or fourth spot which would send them into an additional round.
Key Players To Watch
Iran will be hoping that star striker Sardar Azmoun can replicate his goalscoring exploits from the previous qualifying campaign. Azmoun is Iran's all-time leading scorer and is currently playing for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. The experienced Mehdi Taremi, who plays for FC Porto in Portugal, is another attacking threat for Iran. He has been a prolific scorer for both club and country and will be looking to make an impact in this match.
Kyrgyzstan's main attacking threat is likely to come from Joel Kojo. The striker has scored seven goals in his 17 international appearances and is a key player for the White Falcons. He will be looking to cause problems for the Iranian defense.
Team News
Iran will be without the services of key midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi, who is suspended for this match. The hosts are expected to field a strong lineup, with the likes of Azmoun, Taremi, and Jahanbakhsh expected to start.
Kyrgyzstan will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing Asian Cup campaign and will be looking to get off to a good start in these qualifiers. They are expected to field a strong lineup, with the likes of Kojo, Shukurov, and Alykulov expected to start.
Match Prediction
Iran are clear favorites for this match and will be hoping to make a strong start to the third stage of World Cup qualifying. However, Kyrgyzstan are not to be underestimated, and they will be looking to cause an upset. This match promises to be a fascinating encounter, and we will be following it closely.
What's Next?
After this game, Iran will face a tough test against Uzbekistan in a match that could have a significant impact on the group standings. Kyrgyzstan will be looking to get their first win of the campaign when they face North Korea in their next match.
The match between Iran and Kyrgyzstan is a key encounter in the race for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The hosts will be looking to make a statement, while the visitors will be looking to cause an upset. This is a match that should not be missed.
A Tale of Two Teams: A look at the history of Iran vs. Kyrgyzstan
The rivalry between Iran and Kyrgyzstan is a relatively new one. The two teams have only met four times before, with Iran winning all four matches. However, Kyrgyzstan has shown improvement in recent years, and they will be hoping to make it a more competitive encounter this time around.
Iran's dominance over Kyrgyzstan is not surprising. Iran is one of the strongest teams in Asia, while Kyrgyzstan is a relatively new team on the international stage. However, Kyrgyzstan has been making progress in recent years, and they will be looking to close the gap between themselves and Iran.
The two teams have met twice in the past year, with Iran winning both matches. The first meeting, which was held in 2023 at the CAFA Nations Cup, saw Iran run out 5-1 winners. The second meeting, which was held in a friendly match, saw Iran win 3-0.
These matches suggest that Iran is a significantly better team than Kyrgyzstan, but it would be unwise to write off Kyrgyzstan. The White Falcons are a dangerous team, and they will be looking to prove their worth against the Princes of Persia.
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are likely to be a fierce battle, and the match between Iran and Kyrgyzstan is just the beginning of a long and winding journey. We are excited to see how this match unfolds and how the two teams perform throughout the qualification process.
