Ahmadinejad: Iran will qualify for WC

PTV - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has predicted that Iran's national soccer team will qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking during a visit to the team's training camp on Friday, Ahmadinejad said the players' head coach and the technical staff believe the team has a promising future, adding that Iran could secure first place in Asia.

“You are able to defeat the best teams in the world if you are more united and carry out the required tactics”, he told the players.

Ahmadinejad expressed his hope that the Iranian national team could prepare itself for the next stage and advance to the World Cup.

Iran's national team is to play against the UAE in Tehran's Azadi Stadium on Monday in a World Cup 2010 qualifier match.

Iran is in Group 5 of the Asian World Cup qualifying tournament with Kuwait, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.