TEHRAN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Soccer fans in Tehran will have the chance to watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup games live in movie theaters, Tehran Times daily reported on Wednesday.

"Those theaters that are willing to screen the games need to apply to the council," the spokesman for Iran's Screening Council Gholamreza Faraji was quoted as saying.

"We believe the plan will increase the number of filmgoers, while helping to prevent a drop in box office receipts during this major event," said Faraji.

The theater owners are also requested to seek the approval of the producers of the on-screen movies to avoid any decline in their box-office receipts, he added.

Iran have been drawn in Group B of the World Cup along with Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Iran will kick off the campaign against Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15.