Iran and South Korea’s World Cup journeys came to an end after a tense scramble for the last knockout stage positions among third-place teams. Both squads were unable to progress despite showing promise in the group stages. For Iran, the heartbreak came when Austria’s last-minute equalizer against Algeria changed the qualification scenario in the dying moments of the match. Although Riyad Mahrez’s late goal briefly put Algeria in a position that would have allowed Iran to advance, Sasa Kalajdzic’s stoppage-time goal for Austria ultimately sealed Iran’s fate.
Throughout the tournament, Iran remained unbeaten with three draws. However, this was not enough to secure advancement due to goal difference. The final third-place spot was claimed by Senegal, whose commanding victory in their concluding group game gave them the edge needed to move forward.
South Korea, meanwhile, saw their World Cup dreams dashed despite a victorious start to their campaign. Their initial win could not offset subsequent unfavorable outcomes, which led to their premature exit. The team faced criticism for their performance, placing manager Hong Myung-bo under scrutiny after the underwhelming results.
In addition to Iran and South Korea, teams like Scotland and Uruguay also left the tournament after failing to accumulate sufficient points during the group stage. The expanded format of this World Cup heightened the level of competition, with qualification often hinging on the narrowest of margins right up until the final seconds.