Azerbaijan confirm Iran friendly

AFC - Iran will take on Azerbaijan in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying warm-up in Tehran, the official website of the AFFA (Association of Azerbaijan Football Federations) has reported.

The friendly has been scheduled for August 27 as part of Iran’s preparations for the final group stage of their campaign to qualify for the next FIFA World Cup, which has been beset by numerous match cancellations.

Iran, who will take on Jordan in the final of the 2008 WAFF Championship on Friday, have already seen games against English Championship outfit Charlton Athletic, Spanish clubs Marbella and Malaga, Egypt, and Uzbekistan shelved.

Ali Daei’s side is preparing for their opening Group A match in Round 4 of Asian World Cup qualifiers, which sees Iran away to Saudi Arabia on September 6, while Azerbaijan, who are now under the helm of former Kuwait head coach Berti Vogts, face Finland a day earlier in their South Africa 2010 qualification curtain raiser.