New Zealand, China to meet in friendly

New Zealand will play China in a friendly in Shanghai on Nov. 14 as the New Zealanders seek to bridge a gap in their World Cup qualifying campaign in Oceania.

The match at the Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium falls during al FIFA window for internationals, allowing New Zealand to call on its overseas-based players.

New Zealand is unbeaten after four matches in the third stage of Oceania qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. It played Tahiti earlier this month and will not resume the four-team qualifying series until March.

Football New Zealand said the Nov. 14 match will also be part of celebrations of 40 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and China.

China and New Zealand drew 1-1 when they last met in March, 2011.