Iran World Cup headquarters likely to be based in south German city

IRNA - The Iranian national football team is seriously interested in having its World Cup headquarters in the south German holiday resort town of Friedrichshafen, the website of the daily Schwaebische Zeitung said Saturday.

There are a total of three teams which are vying to have their World Cup base at the 'Krone' Hotel in Schnetzenhausen which is only five kilometers outside of Friedichshafen.

"Iran's chances of staying at the hotel are not bad," a hotel official Guido Ruess was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile Dutch and Norwegian football officials have also inspected the hotel facilities.

Iranian footballers are familiar with the hotel's accommodations since Team Melli held a training camp there in July 2004.

Iran national team coach Branko Ivankovic has also publicly announced that he favors residing at the sports hotel in
Friedrichshafen in late May of next year.

That notwithstanding the international world football body FIFA is responsible for booking the hotels of the World Cup participating teams.

An Iranian football delegation discreetly toured the northwest German town of Wesel last summer, inspecting a hotel as their potential 2006 World Cup headquarters.