The Republic of Ireland will continue their preparations for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 with an International outing against China PR.
Vera Pauw's side will also lock horns with Germany in a behind-closed-doors training fixture.
WNT continue preparations for @FIFAWWC with International Friendly in Spain against China PR
🇨🇳 v 🇮🇪
🗓️ | Wednesday, February 22
⏰ | KO 14:00 (13:00 Irish Time)
📍 | Estadio Nuevo Mirador#CHNIRL | #COYGIG | #WeAreOne— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) January 19, 2023
Holding the distinction of being World Cup runners-up in 1999, China are currently ranked 14th in the FIFA Women’s charts.
They also conquered the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the ninth time last year, sealing qualification for this summer’s World Cup.
Pauw celebrated her birthday yesterday and she was speaking ahead of the upcoming fixtures: "It is vital to our preparations for the World Cup that we make the most of every opportunity that we have together as a squad because we only have three international windows left before that tournament starts in July. This training camp will be key to those preparations.
"China are a technically very good team who will be different from the type of teams we have come up against before. Playing against them gives us the chance to experience the pressure of international football against a highly skilled opponent.
"As part of the February training camp, we will also play against Germany in what we have agreed will be a behind-closed-doors game. This will be an excellent test for our players.
Birthday wishes to our WNT Manager @verapauw 🎉☘️
Some great memories last year. Now to make new ones in 2023! pic.twitter.com/T3rRIlSHZc
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) January 18, 2023
Broadcast details will be announced very shortly and the girls in green will also hold international camps in April and July, before jetting off for the World Cup.
Ireland has been drawn in Group B and will face joint-hosts Australia on the opening day of the tournament in Sydney.
Olympic medallists Canada and Nigeria complete the group., with the highly-anticipated tournament being played in Australia and New Zealand across July and August 2023.
Ireland already has a win over Australia to their name, having won 3-2 in a friendly in Dublin just over a year ago.
The Canadians are ranked seventh in the world and saw off Sweden at the Tokyo Games in 2021 to win gold.
Ireland and Nigeria have never locked horns before, but the African side is considered one of the tougher opposition from pot four.
