Trinidad and Tobago to play Iran in World Cup warm-up

Port of Spain, Jan 31 (IANS/CMC) Trinidad and Tobago will play Iran in an international football friendly June 8 in Sao Paolo, Brazil, just before the start of the FIFA World Cup.

Iran are currently the No.1 ranked team in Asia and 34th in world rankings. A decision on the game came out of discussions involving Iran's head coach Carlos Queiroz, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) and an international match agent.

"This is another massive game for our national team. I think the match comes at a really good time and will be a fantastic opportunity for our current national senior team to experience playing such a game mere days before the start of the World Cup and in the country where all the action will be taking place," said TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee.

The match against Iran will follow T&T's June 4 friendly international against Argentina in La Plata. Iran are making their fourth World Cup appearance, having qualified for the 1978, 1998 and 2006 Finals.

"I am excited by this and it will allow our country's national flag to be flown in Brazil which is always a very proud moment. This game will hopefully go a long way in helping prepare our players for our 2018 Russia World Cup campaign," said Tim Kee.

Iran will compete in Group F alongside Argentina, Nigeria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Along with the warm-up game against T&T, Iran will also play Belarus May 18 and Montenegro May 26.

--IANS/CMC

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