Iran is reportedly planning an international friendly against Nigeria as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
According to the Tehran Times, the proposed fixture is scheduled for March 2026, with the Iran Football Federation currently finalising Team Melli’s build-up programme for the global tournament. The Super Eagles have been identified as one of the potential opponents for the warm-up window.
“The Football Federation of Iran is expected to officially announce Team Melli’s friendly match schedule as preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the publication stated.
“The Federation has been in negotiations with the football federations of Costa Rica and Nigeria to arrange two warm-up matches in March.”
Iran has already been drawn into Group G for the tournament, where they will face Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. The friendlies are expected to help fine-tune their squad ahead of those challenging fixtures.
Nigeria, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on qualification after a 4–3 penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final round of the African playoffs. Despite that setback, the Super Eagles continue to engage in high-profile friendlies as they maintain competitiveness and prepare for future international competitions.