Egypt through but late drama denies Iran guaranteed last 32 spot

Iran secured a 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle, but had a goal disallowed for offside and struck the crossbar in the closing moments, preventing an automatic qualification for the FIFA World Cup knockout stages. This result leaves Iran dependent on being among the top eight third-placed teams to advance. The match's outcome was decided by a tense final period, with Iran's late efforts highlighting their near miss for direct progression. Their qualification hopes now hinge on the performance of other teams in the group stage.