Iran's World Cup Knockout Hopes Hinge on Other Results After Egypt Draw

KATHMANDU. Iran's chances of reaching the knockout stage depend on the results of other teams after being held to a thrilling 1-1 draw by Egypt in the final group stage match of the World Cup. Iran was deprived of a historic achievement when VAR disallowed a goal scored by Iran in the final moments of the game in Seattle for offside. In the seventh minute of injury time, Saeid Ezatolahi's header hit the crossbar and bounced back, and although Shoja Khalilzadeh scored, it was not recognized. Iran has accumulated 3 points by drawing all three of its matches. Belgium has already qualified for the knockout stage as group winner with 7 points, and Egypt as runner-up with 5 points. Iran is in third place with 3 points and a goal difference of zero. According to World Cup rules, the best eight third-placed teams will advance to the round of 32. Iran is currently in sixth place in the rankings of third-placed teams. For Iran to reach the knockout stage, one of the following results is necessary in one of the next three groups (J, K, and L): 1. Group 'L': Iran will advance if Ghana defeats Croatia. 2. Group 'K': Iran will qualify if Congo does not lose to Uzbekistan. (However, if Uzbekistan wins, they must not win by a margin of 7 goals or more). 3. Group 'J': The match between Algeria and Austria must not end in a draw. If either of these two teams wins, Iran's path will open.