Japan will play Canada in an international friendly on Nov. 17 in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the World Cup in Qatar starting on the 20th, the Japan Football Association said Thursday.
The game in Dubai will be the final warmup for the 24th-ranked Japan ahead of its Group E opener against Germany, scheduled on Nov. 23. Costa Rica and Spain also await in the tough group.
Canada, ranked 43rd, qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The Canadians are in Group F alongside Belgium, Morocco and Croatia.
Japan has had success in both of its past two meetings with Canada, the most recent a 2-1 victory in March 2013 in Doha.
Japan will take on World Cup qualifiers the United States and Ecuador in friendlies on Sept. 23 and 27 in Germany.