Iran to play Venezuela, Madagascar

ISNA – TEHRAN, Iranian national soccer team is to have friendly matches with Venezuela and Madagascar teams.

These are the first competitions since Portuguese Carlos Queiroz has accepted to coach the Iranian team.

Carlos Queiroz of Portugal has signed a contract to coach Iran through to the end of the 2014 World Cup.

Queiroz who has acted as the Real Madrid boss took over from Tehran-born US national Afshin Ghotbi, whose contract was not renewed after Iran was knocked out of the 2011 Asian Cup by South Korea.

The 57-year-old twice former Manchester United assistant boss was most recently coach of Portugal, whom he took to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Iran began its quest for a fourth World Cup after appearances in 1978, 1998 — when they memorably beat the United States 2-1 — and in 2006, when they play the Maldives in their opening qualifier on Wednesday.

Iran meets Venezuela on June 6 and Madagascar on July 17.