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)