Soccer: China friendly confirmed

Jeremy Brockie in action against China. Photo / Getty Images

The All Whites will be able to maintain their momentum on the Road to Brazil after confirming an international match with China in Shanghai next month.

The international match will be played on November 14 at the Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium during the FIFA window.

With the All Whites final FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands not scheduled until March 2013 the international friendly serves as an opportunity to keep the squad playing in the lead up to those fixtures.

New Zealand currently leads the race for the Oceania berth in the intercontinental playoff with the fourth best CONCACAF side in November next year. The winner of the home and away tie will qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

China is currently ranked 85th out of 208 FIFA countries with New Zealand sitting seven places below them in 92nd.

It will be the 13th meeting between China and New Zealand at senior men's international level after the team's last met in Wuhan in March last year. That match ended in a 1-1 draw after Michael McGlinchey - who scored two goals in the All Whites recent win over Tahiti - cancelled out a second minute Andrew Boyens own goal.

Earlier this year the Football Ferns also played their Chinese counterparts under the same banner with New Zealand winning the two internationals in Auckland 3-1 and 1-0.

Broadcast coverage of the match is currently being confirmed.