Iran book North Korea friendly

PFDC – TEHRAN, Team Melli will host North Korea in a friendly match in Tehran’s Azadi stadium on Tuesday October 9, Iranian news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday.

The match will serve as preperation for Iran’s World Cup qualifier against South Korea in Tehran exactly a week later.

The game is scheduled slightly ahead of the FIFA matchday on October 12, which is actually reserved for friendly matches ahead of the Asian qualifiers that month. The availability of all Iranian leagionnaires for the friendly is therefore in doubt.

North Korea eliminated Iran from the last World Cup qualifiers, however, the two teams last met in the 2011 Asian Cup group stage with Iran downing the North Koreans 1-0 thanks to a Karim Ansarifard goal.

Iran are grouped with South Korea, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Lebanon in the final round of Asian World Cup qualifying and need to finish at least in second place to directly qualify for Brazil 2014.

Team Melli kick off the campaign in Uzbekistan on June 3, before hosting Qatar on June 12. Iran will then travel to Lebanon for the third game on September 11 before hosting South Korea in October and Uzbekistan in November.