Iran, U.S. likely to play friendly soccer match

TEHRAN, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran is likely to play the United States in a friendly soccer match in future, according to a report posted Thursday on the website of Iran's Sports Network.

Iran's Football Federation (IFF) Deputy Chief Mehdi Taj said in an interview that "Holding the match is still on the agenda and it is likely for the match to be held."

In May, IFF chief Ali Kaffashian said that Iran has agreed to play a friendly match with the U.S. national soccer team.

"We are interested in holding friendly matches with the United States," Kaffashian was quoted as saying by local satellite Press TV.

Earlier, IFF chief told local ISNA news agency that the U.S. Soccer Federation had forwarded a request of a friendly football match to Iran's Football Federation.

In the 1998 World Cup in France, Iran beat U.S. 2-1 and they drew 1-1 in a friendly later in the United States.