AFC - Given the recent poor showing of Iran national football team at the continental as well as global stages, Iran Football Federation is resorted to the young players to step up and get a crack at the international stages, according to the Iran U-16 team’s head coach Ali Doustimehr.

The three time Asian Champions are struggling even at the continental level of late with their Asian triumphs coming back in 1968, 1972 and 1976. After being qualified in FIFA World Cup 2006 they failed to qualify for the 2010 edition and currently being positioned second behind Korea Republic with four points from three matches in Group A of the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifying final rounds for 2014.

“We are looking at future,” said Doustimehr. “The federation has been giving special priorities to these players as they are the future stars of our country,” he said ahead of the Iran U-16’s curtain raiser against Laos in the AFC U-16 Championship starting on Saturday.

“We are aiming to qualify for the Olympics and looking forward to groom these players for the future Iran national team which would help us to qualify for the World Cup and do better,” he added.

“At the moment, the immediate goals for this team are to make the Iran’s football fans happy by winning this tournament or at least qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup which would be the launching pad for them to gain the experiences they need in future,” he added.

The top four teams of the AFC U-16 Championship will book tickets for the FIFA U-17 Championship 2013 to be held in United Arab Emirates.