TEHRAN – Iran national football team midfielder Masoud Shojaei has been invited to Team Melli after more than seven months.

Shojaei was left out of Iran squad from early August after playing against an Israeli club with Panionios in UEFA Europa League.

Iran does not recognize Israel and bars its athletes from competing against participants from the country.

Carlos Queiroz has named his 28-man team for two warm-up matches against Tunisia and Algeria and Shojaei has been included in the team.

Iran prepare for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where they have been drawn with Spain, Morocco and Portugal in Group B.

Team Melli will open the campaign with a match against Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15.

Iran, meanwhile, face Spain in Kazan on 20 June before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Saransk five days later.