Iran soccer players to head for Spain

PTV - Iran's national soccer team is scheduled to travel to Spain to hold a training camp and play several friendly matches with Spanish clubs.

The Iranian squad will leave the capital Tehran Thursday morning and will hold a 10-day training camp in Marbella, Spain July 10-20.

Iran will hold friendlies with Spain's Malga and Sevilla as well as Britain's Charlton FC.

Ali Daei's men will then hold a 7-day training camp in the Czech Republic where they are set to play two additional friendlies.

Iran is preparing for a powerful showing in its September-6 match against Saudi Arabia as part of the Asian qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup, which will be held in South Africa.

Iran is in Group B of the final Asian qualifying round and is scheduled to also compete against North Korea, the UAE and South Korea.

Iran's national soccer team has been placed 37th in world rankings by FIFA, having recently moved up 11 places.