TEHRAN, May. 4 (Mehr News Agency)-- Iranian beach football team will play the Philippines on May 7 in Group B of the Asian Beach football Championship in Jumeirah, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Iran has been drawn with the Philippines and Japan while the UAE(host) will play Uzbekistan and China in Group A.

Iran will face Japan in the second match, which is slated for the following day. The top three teams will qualify for the 2008 Beach Football World Cup to be held in Marseille, France, next July.

The team will be coached by Farshad Falahatzadeh and Behzad Dadashzadeh.

Bahrain, as an Asian powerhouse, will not participate in the competitions due to unknown reasons.

Iran took part in the Brazil Beach Football World Cup last year and beat powerful Spain, however failed to qualify for the next stage.

... Payvand News - 05/04/08 ...