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Iran hires coach Carlos Queiroz for 3rd World Cup together

September 7, 2022 GMT
FILE - Then Egypt's head coach Carlos Queiroz gives instructions to his players during the African Cup of Nations 2022 round of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Egypt at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Jan. 26, 2022. Queiroz could be set for a dramatic return to take charge of Iran’s national team less than three months before the World Cup and Group B games with the United States, England and Wales.(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
FILE - Then Egypt's head coach Carlos Queiroz gives instructions to his players during the African Cup of Nations 2022 round of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Egypt at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Jan. 26, 2022. Queiroz could be set for a dramatic return to take charge of Iran’s national team less than three months before the World Cup and Group B games with the United States, England and Wales.(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Carlos Queiroz was rehired as Iran coach on Wednesday to take the national soccer team to its third straight World Cup, where the squad will face the United States, England and Wales.

Queiroz was hired to replace Dragan Skocic, and he will be reunited with Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj, who was re-elected last month.

Queiroz will now go to his fourth World Cup — he coached his native Portugal in 2010, then Iran in 2014 and 2018 — after failing to lead Egypt to this year’s tournament.

Iran is the second World Cup team to fire the coach who achieved qualification for the tournament in Qatar. Morocco removed Vahid Halilhodžić last month.

Two more World Cup coaches, Ghana’s Otto Addo and Tunisia’s Jalen Kadri, got their jobs only this year. Both were appointed weeks ahead of winning in the African playoffs.

Iran has never advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup. The team’s first match this year will be on Nov. 21 — the second day of the tournament — against England, where Queiroz worked for several years. He had two spells at Manchester United as assistant to Alex Ferguson, and between those coached Real Madrid in the 2003-4 season.

Quieroz’s first preparation games with Iran will be friendlies against Uruguay on Sept. 23 in Austria and Senegal four days later.

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