The United Arab Emirates is to play a friendly international against China at the end of March, sources with the UAE Football Association said.

UAE football authorities had been trying to arrange a game against the Republic of Ireland but, when plans fell through, they turned to China, the 2004 Asian Cup runner-up. The game is slated for either March 26 or 27.

With both teams out of the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, the friendly will serve as a chance for both sides to experiment with new players.

The UAE has confirmed it will play a friendly match against Switzerland on February 9 and is in the process of lining up a game against Iran in June.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2005)