China Cup lines up Bale and Suarez
- Sports
- AFP
- Published Date: 12:00 | 08 November 2017
- Modified Date: 03:14 | 08 November 2017
Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale could face Barcelona rival Luis Suarez in southern China in March after organisers said Wednesday that Wales and Uruguay would join the hosts in the China Cup.
The fourth team taking part in the mini-tournament from March 19-27 in the city of Nanning is the Czech Republic, the Chinese Football Association said.
Chinese organisers hope that the likes of Welsh talisman Bale and Uruguay star forward Suarez will play at the tournament because it falls within the FIFA international window.
For the hosts and their Italian coach Marcello Lippi it is a build-up for the 2019 Asian Cup after China failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia next summer.
The inaugural 2017 China Cup, in addition to the hosts, included Iceland, Croatia and eventual champions Chile.