The most likely friendly match opponents for Team Melli in 2025 and 2026

[Rooyintan]

As most of you or all of you are aware, this year, Team Melli will play at 2025 CAFA Nations Cup from late August to early September. The teams will be the 6 CAFA members and possibly two invitees. Then in September or October, Team Melli will likely play Russia in a friendly match. Although, Russia NT is not reliable and at times cancel matches. Russians are negotiating with Nigeria for June friendly and will most likely play North Korea sometime this year, also negotiating with several unnamed African and Asian national teams.

So let's see what other possible match opponents will there be for Team Melli.

🇰🇪 Kenya (I'm guessing most likely in November this year or sometime in 2026)

https://nairobi.mfa.ir/portal/NewsVi...86%DB%8C%D8%A7

🇨🇳 China PR (sometime this year or in 2026)

They have been playing Iran in futsal and youth levels, with Branko as head coach, if he doesn't mind facing Ghalenoei, then a friendly match would be possible, specially this year when most teams have their calendars full.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia (sometime this year or in 2026)

At youth level, they've faced Iran. Ghaleneoi and FFIRI were very interested to play a friendly with them.

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (they're available in November this year)

In Futsal, they've played Iran in friendly match.


🇹🇷 Turkiye (sometime in 2026)

https://www.tff.org/default.aspx?pag...6530&2586pg=14

🇧🇾 Belarus (sometime in 2026)

Belarus is the most reliable, they've played Iran in Women's football, Fustal (Men's & Women's), Beach Soccer, Youth level. Ghalenoei as coach had tied them in friendly match back in 2007. Ghalenoei, FFIRI and Iran's Ministry of Sport would all like Team Melli to play them.

https://www.irna.ir/news/85606368/%D...B4%D9%88%D8%AF

🇷🇸 Serbia (sometime in 2026)

Iran's previous Minister of Sport signed a MoU with them. However, Serbia has never played Iran in friendly match. In recent years, former Yugoslav countries have been unreliable. Example, last year Croatia canceled a friendly futsal match with Iran.

The current sport minister also suggested friendly football match with Serbia.

https://www.irna.ir/news/85351207/%D...AF%D9%86%D8%AF

https://footballi.net/news/r/918597/...A8%D8%A7%D9%84

https://www.yjc.ir/fa/news/8874920/%...A7%D8%B3%D8%AA

🇸🇳 Senegal (They're available in November or sometime in 2026)

They've played Team Melli in 2022 before the World Cup. Then last year or year before their Beach Soccer team played friendly matches in Iran. Then in 2023, Iran's ambassador to Senegal met with the President of Football Federation of Senegal.

https://senegal.mfa.ir/portal/newsview/728146/%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B3%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B1%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B3%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%84

Apart from these, don't get your hopes high. If lucky maybe Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso, South Africa might play Team Melli, otherwise FFIRI will try to arrange with their favorite AFC teams such as Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan.

[Pluto2000]

Turkey is pretty high chances for our FIFA days in Spring 2026. IFF recently signed memorandum of collaborations with them and that's when they're free from their EUFA schedule

[Rooyintan]

Oops! I forgot about Taj's favorite team in the world.

🇵🇸 Palestine

همانطور که مهدی تاج رئیس فدراسیون فوتبال ایران در این جلسه اظهار داشت: به هر حال همانطور که در عرصه سیاسی با فلسطین هستیم در عرصه فوتبال نیز باید در کنار این کشور باشیم. جنایات جنگی در غزه، فلسطین و لبنان بر کسی پوشیده نیست.

وی افزود: طبق اخبار، رژیم صهیونیستی حدود 400 فوتبالیست را به شهادت رساند. حتی تعدادی از بازیکنان فلسطینی نیز به شهادت رسیدند. من تیم ملی این کشور را به ایران دعوت کردم اما آقای جبرئیل گفت نمی دانیم ممکن است چند بازیکن شهید شده باشند.

https://rabu.ir/%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84/

https://www.isna.ir/news/1403022720069/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B1%DA%98%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%A8-%D8%B5%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C

[Rooyintan]

Turkey is pretty high chances for our FIFA days in Spring 2026. IFF recently signed memorandum of collaborations with them and that's when they're free from their EUFA schedule

Turkiye at times backed down. Yes, they're probably more reliable than Serbia but when it comes to reliability Belarus and China have been the most reliable proven with the various futsal and football friendly matches at men's, women's and youth level. Russia being desperate have been reliable at least in Futsal (Men's and Women's), Women's Football and youth level. But their men's football team is still unreliable in my opinion. I would say Kenya and Senegal are most probably reliable as well, if FFIRI really wants November friendly matches with them could happen this year.

[Pluto2000]

Turkiye at times backed down. Yes, they're probably more reliable than Serbia but when it comes to reliability Belarus and China have been the most reliable proven with the various futsal and football friendly matches at men's, women's and youth level. Russia being desperate have been reliable at least in Futsal (Men's and Women's), Women's Football and youth level. But their men's football team is still unreliable in my opinion. I would say Kenya and Senegal are most probably reliable as well, if FFIRI really wants November friendly matches with them could happen this year.

It will probably be the same as usual 40% average CAF team, 40% random AFC teams, and 20% surprise. They always manage to pull at least one decent camp out of their ass. Looking back at the whole Sweden/Lithuania/Turkey/Senegal/Uruguay/Panama/Venezuela/Tunisia/Bosnia games we've had in the last 2 cycles.

Always have low expectations though, this federation is the best at disappointing

[oracle]

ksa,russia,turkey.

Australia will play us on any field any time
But iff refuses them all the time.
They want revenge 97.

Russia is set on stone.
Turkey is possible right before wc.
Ksa if they qualify directly they will play us in 25
But if they go playoffs they wont.
and in 26 we will refuse since it's to close to ac.

Mexico,Venezuela, bolivia,are also possible.

[Super Shojaei]

Russia
tajikistan
russia u-20

in that order

[Nokhodi]

CAFA is a certainty.
Saudi is likely if both teams qualify for World Cup directly. Otherwise they won't.
Russia (Maybe, or perhaps they play in CAFA tournament as a guest).
Turkey is booked well into 2026. They have friendlies versus Mexico and US scheduled too. We might play them late 2026 before Asia Cup.

In short, keep expectations and hopes very low. Even GN is aware of this and is pushing but its really hard to get any UEFA team to play us, even in Europe!

[arj42]

Uganda u16 all stars, Argentina Paralympic team, Germany 2006 World Cup legends, Libya women’s team, Pakistan

[oracle]

CAFA is a certainty.
Saudi is likely if both teams qualify for World Cup directly. Otherwise they won't.
Russia (Maybe, or perhaps they play in CAFA tournament as a guest).
Turkey is booked well into 2026. They have friendlies versus Mexico and US scheduled too. We might play them late 2026 before Asia Cup.

In short, keep expectations and hopes very low. Even GN is aware of this and is pushing but its really hard to get any UEFA team to play us, even in Europe!

Russia is set on stone
Tm will play russia in russia

[Rooyintan]

ksa,russia,turkey.

Australia will play us on any field any time
But iff refuses them all the time.
They want revenge 97.

Russia is set on stone.
Turkey is possible right before wc.
Ksa if they qualify directly they will play us in 25
But if they go playoffs they wont.
and in 26 we will refuse since it's to close to ac.

Mexico,Venezuela, bolivia,are also possible.

Iranian Rial is the world's weakest currency. FFIRI has been struggling financially. FIFA Calendar is also against them with not many UEFA available in September, October and November, and most of those who are available won't play due to political reasons. No South American teams available on FIFA days until 2026. African teams only available for November, apart from Eritrea or few non-FIFA members.

USA, Canada, Australia won't play Team Melli for political reasons.

Mexico is available but probably won't agree to friendly match since they would most probably ask for the match to be played in USA or Mexico. I don't see them agreeing to play Team Melli in Iran or neautral venue such as Turkiye, UAE or Qatar.

Russia, Saudi Arabia are unreliable. Turkiye only available in 2026 but also unreliable.

In recent years even likes of Lebanon, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait refused to come to Iran for friendly or even declined friendly match.

Japan, South Korea might not agree for friendly too.

So the only realistic option for this year are:

- China PR, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Yemen for September/October/November
- Bosnia Herzegovina for October
- Kazakhstan, Senegal, Kenya or some mid-ranked African team for November friendlies.

I don't see financial and political situation would change next year hence I don't think Team Melli would face Latin American teams or strong European and African teams. So for next year it will probably be Belarus or if somehow Serbia, Armenia, Georgia, Burkina Faso, Mali, South Africa agree to play Team Melli.

Best thing for this year is just 2025 CAFA Nations Cup.

[Pluto2000]

Iranian Rial is the world's weakest currency. FFIRI has been struggling financially. FIFA Calendar is also against them with not many UEFA available in September, October and November, and most of those who are available won't play due to political reasons. No South American teams available on FIFA days until 2026. African teams only available for November, apart from Eritrea or few non-FIFA members.

USA, Canada, Australia won't play Team Melli for political reasons.

Mexico is available but probably won't agree to friendly match since they would most probably ask for the match to be played in USA or Mexico. I don't see them agreeing to play Team Melli in Iran or neautral venue such as Turkiye, UAE or Qatar.

Russia, Saudi Arabia are unreliable. Turkiye only available in 2026 but also unreliable.

In recent years even likes of Lebanon, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait refused to come to Iran for friendly or even declined friendly match.

Japan, South Korea might not agree for friendly too.

So the only realistic option for this year are:

- China PR, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Yemen for September/October/November
- Bosnia Herzegovina for October
- Kazakhstan, Senegal, Kenya or some mid-ranked African team for November friendlies.

I don't see financial and political situation would change next year hence I don't think Team Melli would face Latin American teams or strong European and African teams. So for next year it will probably be Belarus or if somehow Serbia, Armenia, Georgia, Burkina Faso, Mali, South Africa agree to play Team Melli.

Best thing for this year is just 2025 CAFA Nations Cup.

IFF always finds money in their "pocket" when its time. Recall our Austria and Bulgaria camps in 2022 and 2023. They also were setting up a whole camp in Canada before they got cancelled in 2022. As usual it's gonna be a mix of 90% shitty teams and 1-3 somewhat decent friendlies again like the last 3 cycles.

Either way no amount of friendlies is going to fix this garbage team with ghalemorghi at the helm. We're probably gonna lose 5-0 again to any European/South American team with a decent offense at the WC

[oracle]

Iranian Rial is the world's weakest currency. FFIRI has been struggling financially. FIFA Calendar is also against them with not many UEFA available in September, October and November, and most of those who are available won't play due to political reasons. No South American teams available on FIFA days until 2026. African teams only available for November, apart from Eritrea or few non-FIFA members.

USA, Canada, Australia won't play Team Melli for political reasons.

Mexico is available but probably won't agree to friendly match since they would most probably ask for the match to be played in USA or Mexico. I don't see them agreeing to play Team Melli in Iran or neautral venue such as Turkiye, UAE or Qatar.

Russia, Saudi Arabia are unreliable. Turkiye only available in 2026 but also unreliable.

In recent years even likes of Lebanon, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait refused to come to Iran for friendly or even declined friendly match.

Japan, South Korea might not agree for friendly too.

So the only realistic option for this year are:

- China PR, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Yemen for September/October/November
- Bosnia Herzegovina for October
- Kazakhstan, Senegal, Kenya or some mid-ranked African team for November friendlies.

I don't see financial and political situation would change next year hence I don't think Team Melli would face Latin American teams or strong European and African teams. So for next year it will probably be Belarus or if somehow Serbia, Armenia, Georgia, Burkina Faso, Mali, South Africa agree to play Team Melli.

Best thing for this year is just 2025 CAFA Nations Cup.

Australia hc said few times last year, we asked iran several times for friendly and they turned us down.