The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has officially refuted reports of a proposed friendly international match against Algeria to be held in Manchester, England, as part of Team Melli’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speculation had circulated in Algerian media, which claimed that the Algerian national team would play two high-profile friendlies in Manchester, against Brazil and Iran, ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

In a formal statement released from Tehran, the FFIRI firmly denied any such arrangements, clarifying that all official match confirmations involving Team Melli will be announced exclusively by the Federation itself, not through external or international sources.

The communiqué further confirmed that the Federation is actively in the process of finalizing two friendly matches during the next FIFA international window. Official dates and venues will be announced as soon as contracts are formally signed and ratified.

Sources close to the national team setup have indicated that head coach Amir Ghalenoei is particularly keen to schedule at least one preparatory match against an African side. In this regard, Algeria would have been an ideal opponent, given that their style and caliber closely mirror that of Iran’s confirmed World Cup group-stage opponent, Egypt.