England line-up Mexico friendly clash

England will face Mexico in a World Cup friendly at Wembley in May with coach Fabio Capello keen to tackle a team from the same region as the USA, a group rival at the finals in South Africa.

Although the Football Association are yet to confirm the May 24 game, Mexican officials have included it in their friendly schedule that also incorporates matches against Holland and world champions Italy.

England will open their Group C campaign at the World Cup against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.

The game will also act as an official farewell as England’s final friendly – almost certainly against Japan – will be held at the end of that week in Austria.

Meanwhile, Mexico announced a six-match US tour that will serve as their tune-up trek ahead of June’s global showdown in South Africa.

The Mexicans will prepare for their 14th World Cup appearance with a US tour that begins February 24 in San Francisco against Bolivia.

The Tri-colores will then face World Cup-bound New Zealand on March 3 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and play against Iceland three weeks later on March 24 at Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mexico and Ecuador will stage the first international sports event at the new Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 7 and then face Senegal three days later at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The final US tour match will be played May 13 against an opponent to be named later.

Mexico will play hosts South Africa in the World Cup 2010 opener on June 11 in Johannesburg.