Sport reporter
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is in discussion with its Iranian counterpart for a FIFA Friendly ahead of the two teams’ first match of the World Cup Qualifiers in September.
A high-placed BFF official yesterday confirmed that they have sent a proposal to the Iranian Football Federation regarding a friendly match in Doha, Qatar in the first week of September, however, the fixture is far from set.
“We have contacted Iran Football Federation regarding a match, and their initial reply is a positive one. However, we have a few other teams on our list and the fixture is not finalised as yet,” BFF’s general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag told The Daily Star.
“Since our first match of the qualifiers in on September 10, we would like to have an 8-10 days’ training camp in Doha after a few days’ training in Dhaka. We are planning for a friendly match against a national team during that time in Doha. The match could be held on September 4th or 5th, so that the team can fly straight out of Doha for the first qualifying match against Afghanistan,” Shohag added.
Tehran Times, a leading Iranian newspaper, earlier reported that since both the teams have their first matches on September 10, a September 5 fixture between Iran and Bangladesh is being negotiated by the two federations.
Iran are the highest-ranked Asian team at the moment, currently 20th in FIFA Rankings. Bangladesh, on the other hand, is ranked 183rd.
Bangladesh last met Iran during the 1990 World Cup qualifiers in 1989. Bangladesh lost both matches, 2-1 in Dhaka and 1-0 in Tehran.