Iran says U.S. friendlies looking unlikely

Iran has declared that there's little chance that a proposed friendly match with the U.S. will go ahead.

It was announced earlier this year that the two nations, which have uneasy political relations with each other, would work together to meet on the pitch in October and November with one game to take place in Tehran and the other in Los Angeles -- home of a large Iranian expatriate community.

The rivals famously met at the 1998 World Cup when Iran triumphed 2-1 in a pulsating match in Lyon.

According to the Asian Football Confederation, Ali Kafashian, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, said: "We had announced our readiness to hold matches with the U.S. team via letters but have not received any answer yet. In this case the matches will be canceled."

Iran has already failed in its attempt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. --Goal.com