Team Melli’s crucial summer preparations set

Persianfootball.com – TEHRAN, Iran boss Carlos Queiroz and IFF president Ali Kafashian set the schedule for Team Melli’s preparations for the decisive three World Cup qualifiers in June.

Iran will need some results in order to achieve direct qualification for Brazil 2014 or at least a playoff ticket from the matches in Qatar (June 4), versus Lebanon (June 11) and in South Korea (June 18).

Oman and Iraq friendlies planned

Queiroz will therfore gather his players in Tehran on May 14, four days after the conclusion of Iran’s league. The national team will at first have to do without some players though, as some European leagues resume until later May and also the AFC Champions League round of 16 will be played on May 14/15 and 21/22 respectively.

Iran will gear up for Qatar with a friendly match against Oman’s national team in Muscat on May 22.

The match will be followed by a training camp in Dubai starting the next day and including another test, this time against Iraq on May 27.

Then Team Melli will leave for Doha for the first of the three crucial games.

Fair Play request sent to AFC

Meanwhile the IFF has sent requests to AFC for non-Arab referees in the three games as well as a reminder to have the final World Cup qualifier played simultaniously to the other game of the group.

Four years ago Iran, in competition with Saudi Arabia and North Korea for a World Cup berth as well as a playoff slot, had to play South Korea hours ahead of the clash of the competitors.

After Iran’s 1-1 draw in Seoul, Saudi Arabia and North Korea settled with a draw, the only results seeing Iran eliminated in benefit of the other two.

However, this time FIFA guaranteed in the World Cupq qualifying regulations that all final group matches will have to be played simultaniously all around the world, meaning Iran’s match in Seoul and the game between Uzbekistan and Qatar in Tashkent will have to kick off at the same time.