IRNA - KAISERSLAUTERN, FC Kaiserslautern midfielder Ferydoon Zandi has finally agreed to play for the Iranian national football team, a club press release faxed to IRNA said Wednesday.

"I ultimately see the Iranian offer as a great chance, as a challenge, which is very interesting in view of the 2006 World Cup," Zandi was quoted as saying in the statement.

"I absolutely want to qualify with the Iranian team for the final round in Germany. I am very excited about this sports adventure," added the German-Iranian midfielder who has only once visited his father`s native country.

Zandi who is the top goal scorer in Kaiserslautern with 4 goals and 4 assists, will field up for Iran`s next test match against Bosnia on February 2. There were contradictory reports in the German media about Zandi`s degree of interest in playing for Iran.

The 26-year old Zandi, whose father is Iranian and mother is German, was reportedly having second doubts over his teaming with Iran. FIFA rule changes allow the former member of Germany`s Under-21 national football squad to play for Iran`s A-team during the second stage of the 2006 World Cup qualifying phase.

Iran is placed in Group B of the Asian zone with Japan, Bahrain and North Korea.
The first two teams are directly qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.