Japan's friendly against Montenegro in Shizuoka on March 25 has been canceled due to the aftermath of Friday's devastating earthquake and tsunami, but the Japan Football Association said Wednesday it hopes to go ahead with the game against New Zealand four days later.
Japan were set to face New Zealand in the two-match Kirin Challenge Cup at Tokyo's National Stadium but the JFA now wants to play the All Whites on March 29 in a charity match in Osaka, which has been unaffected by one of the worst natural disasters to hit the country.
"We have decided to hold a charity match at Nagai Stadium on March 29. Details still need to be sorted out but we hope to play New Zealand, which like Japan has also suffered damage from a big earthquake," said JFA President Junji Ogura, referring to the quake that hit Christchurch last month.