Iran will meet Uzbekistan on September 11 in a friendly football match in Tashkent to warm up for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup in the UAE in January.
Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz of Team Melli started training few days ago but has still not renewed his contract with the Football Federation of Iran, YJC reported.
Uzbekistan will face Iran with newly hired coach Hector Cooper. The Argentine was in charge of Egypt in the Russia World Cup but the team failed to advance from the group stage.
As Queiroz said in a TV program on Monday, the game will be a stage for the young players to prepare for the Asian Cup as they will be given priority over their more experienced peers in the tournament.
Keeper Seyyed Hossein Hosseini, versatile defenders Sadegh Moharami and Armin Sohrabian, wingers Mehdi Torabi and Saman Ghoddos, and forwards Ali Gholizadeh and Kaveh Rezaei are expected in the Iran squad against the Central Asian country.
Iran shares Group D in the Asian Cup with Vietnam, Iraq and Yemen while Uzbekistan is drawn with Japan, Oman and Turkmenistan in Group F.
A total of 24 teams from the continent play in the quadrennial tournament from January 5-February 1 in eight cities in the UAE. Iran, winner of three consecutive titles in 1968, 1972 and 1976 has eyes on the fourth.
