Can Khusanov stop Iran's attack and Shomurodov find a way to the opponent's goal?

The Uzbekistan national team, which is competing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, will play its eighth match of the third round of the regional qualifying tournament on March 25 against Iran.

This match is a clash between the teams occupying the first two places in the competition table, which gives them a direct ticket to the World Cup.

The football community is currently analyzing the situation ahead of the match.

- In order for the Iranian national team to qualify for the World Cup for the fourth time in a row, a draw in the match against Uzbekistan will be enough for them. Uzbekistan, on the other hand, can increase their points to 19 by winning this match, equaling the Iranians.

The Iranian national team is in a good form. They have only dropped two points during the tournament, losing only in a draw with Uzbekistan in October.

For Uzbekistan, a victory at home would almost guarantee their first World Cup. To do this, they will have to overcome the pressure at the imposing Azadi Stadium, - writes the official website of the Asian Football Confederation.

Experts analyzing the upcoming match between the national teams of Iran and Uzbekistan emphasize that a draw will be enough for both sides.

- The Persians are in excellent form: they have won four matches in a row, their unbeaten streak has reached 11 matches, and they have won 13 of the last 15 matches at home. The team is playing an attacking game. This is evidenced by the fact that they have scored 12 goals in the last four matches.

Uzbekistan will need not only a solid defense but also a strong forward line in the upcoming clash. Timur Kapadze's team has a very good chance of qualifying for the World Cup directly.

The Uzbeks are six points ahead of their closest rivals and if they do not lose in Iran, they will have a chance to qualify.

The main problem for this team is efficiency. The Uzbeks have scored only five goals in their last six matches. However, they have a record worth bragging about. They have lost only two of their last 13 matches on the opponent's field, having managed to defeat the visitors eight times.

Iran will do everything in their power to secure a World Cup qualification ahead of schedule in front of their fans. But Uzbekistan is not a team that will give up without a fight. A victory for the visitors would turn the situation in the competition table upside down. A draw will ensure that the intrigue remains until the end of the qualifying tournament, writes the website sportandbets.com.

Some experts note that the outcome of the upcoming match will be greatly influenced by the ability of Roma striker Eldor Shomurodov to break through the Iranian defense and the ability of the Uzbek defenders, led by Manchester City star Abdukоdir Khusanov, to repel the opponent's sharp attacks.

The crucial match between the national teams of Iran and Uzbekistan will start on March 25 at 21:00 Tashkent time. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”