PANAMA CITY, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Panama and South Africa will step up their preparations for this year's FIFA World Cup with a double-header of friendlies next month, the Panamanian Football Federation (FPF) said on Thursday.
The fixtures will be played in South Africa on March 27 and 31, at venues that have yet to be confirmed, the FPF said in a statement.
"Both matches represent an important opportunity for Panama, as they will face an opponent from the African confederation whose physical and tactical characteristics are similar to those of Ghana," it said.
Panama has been drawn in the World Cup's Group L alongside Ghana, Croatia and England while South Africa has been pitted against Mexico, South Korea and a yet-to-be-determined qualifier in Group A.
The World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19. ■
