England to play Brazil and Ireland in 2013

LONDON: England will play friendlies against Brazil and the Republic of Ireland in 2013 as a way of launching the Football Association's 150th anniversary, the national governing body said Wednesday.

Five-time World Cup winners Brazil will visit Wembley in February as part of a two-match arrangement that sees England heading to South America for a brief tour in June.

Prior to that trip, England will play the Republic of Ireland, also at Wembley, for the first time since their infamous fixture in 1995 was abandoned after a riot by England fans at Dublin's Lansdowne Road.

Brazil are always a big draw card and the February 6 clash is given added relevance by the fact the South Americans, beaten finalists in the recent men's Olympic football final in London, are staging the 2014 World Cup.

Meanwhile officials will hope for a big crowd for what will be the Republic's first match at Wembley since 1991, with travelling fans only having to make a relatively short journey and a large expatriate community already in London.

News of these fixtures come after the FA announced their 150th anniversary would also feature a match in August between England and Scotland -- international football's oldest clash.

Club England managing director Adrian Bevington said: "We're delighted Brazil will kick-off the FA's 150th anniversary celebrations at Wembley.

"2013 is a landmark year for The FA and an exciting England fixture programme in addition to Wembley hosting the UEFA Champions League Final will form a key part of the celebrations.

"As the most successful footballing nation, with great players and supporters, it will be fantastic to launch this important year in English football's history against such outstanding opponents as Brazil.

Meanwhile Bevington added the matches in South America would form a part of England's plans for the 2014 World Cup -- a tournament for which they have still to qualify.

England, who've won the World Cup just once -- on home soil in 1966 -- were held to a 1-1 draw by a qualifier Ukraine at Wembley on Tuesday.

But they remain unbeaten in their quest to get to Brazil 2014, following Friday's 5-0 win in Moldova. (AFP)