Iran to play friendly against Costa Rica March 1

IRNA - Iran will host Costa Rica in a football friendly in Azadi Stadium in western Tehran on March 1, announced the federation here Wednesday.

Costa Rica won a ticket to the 2006 World Cup in the Southern American zone qualifiers.

Iran's Football Federation (IFF) said the Costa Rican federation had agreed to play a friendly in Tehran.

Costa Rica will array against the host Germany in the opening match of the World Cup in Munich on June 9.

Germany was drawn with Costa Rica, Poland, and Ecuador in Group A during an official ceremony in Leipzig last December.

Iran, Mexico, Portugal, and Angola are in Group D.