6/4/2006
IRNA

Iran's national football team Sunday arrived in this southwestern German city, its training base for the 2006 World Cup.

Iran's Ambassador in Germany, Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzadeh, local officials and large number of Iranians residing in Germany welcomed the Iranian team at the airport.

Welcoming the Iranian squad, Friedrichshafen mayor expressed hope the team would emerge victorious in their games at the 2006 World Cup.

Before departure for the World Cup, members of the national football team and the Iranian Football Federation met President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran Saturday afternoon.

Iran's World Cup team is in Group D with Mexico, Portugal and Angola and has chosen the southern German city of Friedrichshafen as its base.

Iran will face Mexico in the group's opener in Nuremberg, southeastern Germany, on June 11.