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Follow @sportsmole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2Fns-3-photo-frame-email-sportmole-11-691343fe1c5d2607279107.jpg "Lionel Messi/Harry Kane/Vinicius Junior composite")
World Cup 2026: Which teams have qualified for this summer's tournament in North America?
Sports Mole takes a closer look at each team to have qualified for the 2026 World Cup in North America and how they got there.08:00
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F12%2Feric-chelle.jpeg "Nigeria's head coch Eric Chelle on January 14, 2025")
Preview:Iran vs Nigeria - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Friday's International Friendlies clash between Iran and Nigeria, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Mar 25, 17:11
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F36%2Fmehdi-taremi_1.jpg "Mehdi Taremi of Iran on February 7, 2024")
World Cup 2026: Who could replace Iran if they withdraw from the tournament?
There is a genuine possibility that Iran will not compete at the 2026 World Cup. The question that naturally follows is: who would replace the Asian nation in the event of a withdrawal?Mar 12, 09:29
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F10%2Fnaushad-qatar-manager-julen-lopetegui-attends-a-press-conference-ahead-of-his-side-s-fifa-world-cup-2026-afc-asian-qualifier-on-october-7-2025-68e6f8b335138131622738.jpg "Qatar manager Julen Lopetegui attends a press conference ahead of his side's FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Asian qualifier on October 7, 2025")
Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates push to qualify for the 2026 World Cup: AFC standings, upcoming fixtures, story so far
As AFC 2026 World Cup qualifying resumes, Sports Mole takes a look at the story so far in Asia.Oct 12, 18:25
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F06%2FAlireza%20Jahanbakhsh%20and%20Mohammad%20Mohebbi%20.jpg "Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Mohammad Mohebbi celebrate the winning goal for Iran against Japan at the 2023 Asian Cup")
Preview:Iran vs North Korea - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Iran and North Korea, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Jun 8, 23:00
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F23%2Fakram-afif.jpg "Akram Afif of Qatar celebrates after scoring on March 20, 2025")
Preview:Qatar vs. Iran - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Qatar and Iran, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Jun 3, 12:52
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F49%2Fabdukodir-khusanov.jpg "Uzbekistan's Abdukodir Khusanov on July 24, 2024")
Preview:Iran vs. Uzbekistan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Iran and Uzbekistan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Mar 23, 23:25
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F36%2Fpaulo-bento.jpg "Paulo Bento, head coach of the United Arab Emirates, is seen before the round of 16 match between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates at AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 in Doha, Qatar on January 28, 2024")
Preview:Iran vs. United Arab Emirates - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Iran and United Arab Emirates, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Mar 19, 00:13
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Fmaksim-lisitsyn_1.jpg "Head Coach Maksim Lisitsyn of Kyrgyzstan during his side's match against Qatar, on October 10, 2024")
Preview:Kyrgyzstan vs. Iran - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Kyrgyzstan and Iran, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Nov 17, 18:51
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Falireza-jahanbakhsh.jpg "Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh celebrates during his nation's World Cup 2018 Asia qualifying football match against Qatar, on September 1, 2016")
Preview:North Korea vs. Iran - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between North Korea and Iran, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Nov 12, 23:13
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F36%2Fmehdi-taremi.jpg "Iran's Mehdi Taremi on February 7, 2024")
Preview:Iran vs. Qatar - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Iran and Qatar, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Oct 13, 20:13
Preview:Uzbekistan vs. Iran - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Uzbekistan and Iran, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Oct 8, 16:04
Preview:United Arab Emirates vs. Iran - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between United Arab Emirates and Iran, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Sep 8, 10:54
Preview:Iran vs. Kyrgyzstan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Iran and Kyrgyzstan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Sep 3, 23:59
Preview:Iran vs. Uzbekistan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Iran and Uzbekistan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Jun 9, 17:07
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F02%2Fhong-kong.jpg "Hong Kong's Chan Siu Kwan celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on January 14, 2024")
Preview:Hong Kong vs. Iran - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Hong Kong and Iran, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Jun 4, 14:19
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F02%2Famir-ghalenoei.jpg "Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei reacts on January 14, 2024")
Preview:Turkmenistan vs. Iran - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Turkmenistan and Iran, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Mar 24, 21:37
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F23%2F12%2Famir-ghalenoei.jpg "Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei on March 23, 2023")
Preview:Iran vs. Turkmenistan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Iran and Turkmenistan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Mar 19, 15:12
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F06%2FYazeed%20Abulaila%20.jpg "Yazeed Abulaila celebrates as Jordan defeat South Korea at the Asian Cup on February 6, 2024")
Asian Cup 2023: Highlights of a tournament full of drama, late goals and underdog stories
Ahead of the 2023 Asian Cup final, Asian football specialists Dez Corkhill looks back at a remarkable tournament which has seen late goals, drama and underdog stories galore.Feb 9, 23:02
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F06%2FAli%20Gholizadeh%20.jpg "Ali Gholizadeh celebrates with his son as Iran defeated Japan at the 2023 Asian Cup")
Preview:Iran vs. Qatar - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Asian Cup clash between Iran and Qatar, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Feb 5, 05:41
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