U.S. to play at Netherlands in World Cup warm-up

Published Dec. 16, 2009 1:22 p.m. ET

foxsports

The United States will play the third-ranked Netherlands in a World Cup warm-up at Amsterdam on March 3, and both teams figure to be at relatively full strength.

The game will be played on the only day before May that FIFA requires clubs to release players to national teams.

The U.S. is 0-3 against the Dutch, including a 1-0 loss at Amsterdam in 2004. It will be the eighth game in one year for the Americans against a World Cup team, and the U.S. already has faced No. 1 Spain, No. 2 Brazil and No. 4 Italy.

The U.S. opens next year's schedule against Honduras on Jan. 23 at Carson, Calif., and is trying to arrange a home game against Mexico in late February. The Americans start the World Cup in South Africa on June 12 against England, play Slovenia on June 18 and Algeria on June 23.

The Dutch are in a group with Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.