China will play three matches in the United States as part of
their preparations for July's Asian Cup finals, the Chinese
Football Association (CFA) said on Thursday.
China will train in the US from May 31 to June 11, playing the
US national team and two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, CFA
spokesman Dong Hua said.
Local media reported that the MLS clubs would be former England
captain David Beckham's new team Los Angeles Galaxy and Colorado
Rapids but Dong said the opposition had yet to be fixed.
Beckham would not be available to play for the Galaxy in any
case as he is committed to seeing out his contract at Real Madrid,
which ends on June 30.
China, runners-up to Japan at the last Asian Cup in 2004, will
also play Thailand at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium on May 16
before heading to the US, Dong confirmed.
The Chinese team will also play Hong Kong in late June to mark
the 10-year anniversary of the handover of power from Britain to
China.
Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia will co-host the Asian
Cup from July 7-29. China have been drawn in Group C for the
opening round with Iran, Uzbekistan and Malaysia.
(China Daily via Reuters April 6, 2007)