IRNA - Football international body FIFA has
placed Iran 17th in the world, making it the highest ever position
reached by Iran`s national football team, the press reported Wednesday.
Iran moved up seven and eleven spots respectively since March 4, 2004 and
December 3, 2003.
Iran has also surpassed other Asian football powerhouses like South Korea,
Japan and Saudi Arabia.
FIFA hailed on its website "high-flying Iran" for its recent superb
performances during the first stage of the Asian qualifying round of the
2006 World Cup.