USA says rumors of Iran match-up are premature

MLSsoccer.com – CHICAGO, Fifteen years after their first-ever meeting, news of a potential USA vs. Iran match-up still makes world headlines given the political backdrop that involves the two nations.

But the rumors that have been swirling in the international press about a pre-World Cup tune-up match next year on US soil are nothing but speculation at this point, according to the US Soccer Federation.

Media outlets including La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy have picked up on comments by Iranian federation officials about a potential four-team tournament involving Iran and the USA in the lead-up to the 2014 Brazil World Cup next summer. That talk is stil premature, says the USSF.

“In preparation for our pre-World Cup matches, we’ve been actively talking to numerous Federations that have qualified for the World Cup about playing in the U.S. in late May and early June,” US Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe told MLSsoccer.com on Saturday. “All of these discussions are preliminary and we do not have any matches set at this point.”

The expectation is that several nations that qualify for Brazil 2014 will make plans to stop in the USA for training camps and friendlies before setting foot in South America.

But don’t expect to see any official announcements of specific match-ups until after the World Cup group stage draw is held on December 6 in Bahia.