Tehrantimes - Iran and Iraq football teams will play on Friday in Canberra in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final.

The Iranian outfit, having topped its preliminary group with a perfect record, is aiming to end nearly 40 years of football heartache.

Iran defeated Iraq 1-0 in a friendly in Sydney on January 4th courtesy of Rubin Kazan striker Sardar Azmoun; however, the Iraqi football team, who has won the title in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, is ready to repeat its success.

“I wish the 2007 scenario re-occurs again. It's a very difficult situation for both sides. I think both will give their best on the day and we're going to see a good match in Canberra,” Iraq coach Radhi Shenaishil Swadi said after his team defeated Palestine 2-0 in Group D.

Asia's top-ranked team at No. 51, Iran has not progressed past the Asian Cup quarter-final since 1996, falling well short of its most successful era when it won three successive tournaments from 1968 to 1976.

Iran and Iraq have played 24 times each other, with Iran winning 14 times, Iraq taking four victories and six matches ending in a draw.