The Iran national football team suffered another defeat against Uzbekistan, losing 3-1 in Tashkent. The 'Melli' team, coached by Amir Ghalenoei, has won against Uzbekistan only once in the last eight matches, while suffering three losses during this period.
Despite Uzbekistan's significant progress in recent years, they are still not considered one of Asia's traditional heavyweights. Despite Iran's disappointing results, the Iranian Football Federation decided to maintain cooperation with Ghalenoei.
This decision was made after the 'Melli' team missed a historic chance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by failing to qualify for the playoffs. Nevertheless, their participation in the tournament was noted as a success, as Iran went through the entire tournament without any defeats.
However, it is difficult to view this as anything more than a missed opportunity. Furthermore, Iran's U23 team also failed at the 2026 Asian Games, losing to North Korea 4-1 on Wednesday. This result was a disaster for Hossein Abdi's team and another worrying sign for the state of Iranian football.
Previously, Iran held an advantage over teams like Uzbekistan and North Korea, but today achieving victories against them is becoming increasingly difficult. In other parts of Asia, Japan defeated Uruguay 3-1, and South Korea achieved an impressive victory over Ecuador 3-0.
Ghalenoei promised to update the 'Melli' squad and build a team for the future. However, experienced players such as Ehsan Hajsafi and Shojae Khalilzadeh continue to play in the lineup. Experts believe that this approach is not correct for Iranian football, and without a serious change in strategy, the future of the Iranian national team may become increasingly uncertain.
