Tasnim - Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Masoud Soltanifar hopes that the Iranian football team book a place in the 2018 World Cup next stage.





The Iranian National Football Team (also known as Team Melli) is the first Asian team who has already qualified for the prestigious event.

�First, I hope we have a good draw in the 2018 World Cup. Then we will have to qualify for the next stage for the first time,� Soltanifar said in an interview with Iran�s state-run TV.

�We are going to arrange about seven warm-up matches for Team Melli as part of preparation for the World Cup. We want to show a good performance in the competition in accordance with our dignity,� he added.

�After the World Cup, we will focus on the 2018 Asian games since we want to make history in the competition."

"In the Olympics, we have claimed medals just in four sports so far. Iran has won medals in weightlifting, wrestling, taekwondo and athletic and we hope to win medals in more sports,� Soltanifar said.

�We�ve been focusing on the area of women�s sports development over the past nine months and I think we have so many talented sportswomen in our country. Kimia Alizadeh won a medal in the 2016 Olympic Games and I think our women are capable of winning three medals in the upcoming Olympics,� the minister concluded.