In this Dec 21, 2018 photo, players of Iran's national football team attend a training session as they prepare for the 2019 edition of the AFC Asian cup, in Qatar's capital of Doha. (KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)

TEHRAN - Iran's national football team will play a friendly against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on September 7, the IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

Iran are third in AFC qualifying second round Group C, five points behind group leaders Iraq, and are in danger of failing to progress further

Iran's Football Federation is also in talks with other teams to hold preparatory matches ahead of crucial 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, said the report.

On July 4, it was announced that Syria would also play a friendly against Iran on September 3.

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Iran are third in AFC qualifying second round Group C, five points behind group leaders Iraq, and are in danger of failing to progress further.

The eight group winners and four best runners-up in the second round will advance to the final round of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.