The Football Federation of Iran has canceled a planned friendly match between Iran and Spain that was due to take place in June. Federation spokesperson Amirmahdi Alavai said talks with Spain reached the final stage before the Spanish side pulled out. Both federations had agreed on the match date and venue.
Iran and Spain planned to play during FIFA’s official June international period. During this time, national teams schedule matches and clubs release players for international duty. Iran saw the game as an important step in its preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Alavai said Spain informed Iran of its decision at the last moment. “We were close to signing the contract when they emailed us to say they could not play,” he said. “We had already finalized the date and stadium.” Earlier negotiations placed the match in La Coruña and valued the agreement at about $1.3 million. Spain later suggested holding the match during the September international period instead.
Iran rejected that proposal. Alavai said the national team’s technical staff had already designed the June schedule. “We planned the Spain match specifically for June,” he said. Following the cancellation, Iran must now secure a new opponent for the June international break. Federation officials have started talks with other national teams to avoid gaps in the preparation program.
Friendly matches against top European sides play a key role in Iran’s build-up to major tournaments. They help the coaching staff test tactics, assess player performance, and expose the squad to high-level competition. Despite the setback, Iranian officials remain confident they can arrange a suitable alternative. The federation plans to announce further details once it completes negotiations.