FIFA sets August date for NIreland vs Russia

FIFA sets August date for NIreland vs Russia

Published Apr. 12, 2013 10:13 a.m. ET

FIFA says Russia will play Northern Ireland in a twice-postponed World Cup qualifier on Aug. 14 in Belfast.

Russia had been scheduled to host Argentina on that date in a friendly in Moscow.

FIFA says it agreed to the rescheduled World Cup date after meeting with officials from Northern Ireland and Russia on Wednesday.

Heavy snowfall in Belfast forced the original match to be postponed on March 22 and the next day.

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Russia, which won four straight qualifiers, leads Israel and Portugal by one point having played two games fewer.

Northern Ireland has yet to win in five matches and trails Russia by nine points.

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