TEHRAN – Iran national football team defeated Nicaragua 1-0 in a friendly match held in Tehran’s Azadi empty stadium Thursday night.

Mehdi Torabi scored the solitary goal of the match in the 15th minute.

Several stars of Team Melli including Mehdi Taremi, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Sardar Azmoun and Saman Ghoddos were absent in this match.

Iran will also play Tunisia in their last warm up ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha, Qatar.

Tunisia are one of the African representatives in the Qatar World Cup. The Eagles of Carthage are in Group D alongside France, Denmark, and Australia.

Iran are in Group B of the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Wales, England, and the U.S.