Ireland to play Spain at Yankee Stadium

The FAI have confirmed Ireland will take on world and European champions Spain in a friendly at New York’s Yankee Stadium on June 11, despite the second leg of their planned trip to the States failing to get off the ground.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad will cross the Atlantic for the end of a hectic four-game spell which includes a friendly away to England on May 29 and the home qualifier with the Faroe Islands on June 7. They also play Georgia at home in a friendly on June 2. There had initially been plans for a second game in the US against Greece, but the Spanish game will now be held as a standalone fixture.

Trapattoni said: “Matches against opposition like England, Georgia and Spain are very helpful to that development and great preparation for our important competitive fixtures in June, September and October.”