Shaanxi to host int'l football friendly between Uruguay, Panama

Xian Yang, a city of northwestern China's Shaanxi Province, is set to hold an international football friendly between Uruguay U-20 team and Panama national team on Nov. 12, said organizers during a press conference here on Saturday.

Uruguay, who won the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup this June, will send most of their winning squad to China.

The friendly will see actions at Xianyang Olympic Center, which held the Shaanxi Provincial Games in 2018 and the football event of the country's National Games in 2021, said Liu Jie, director of Xianyang's Administration of Sports, during the conference.

"We plan to invite 20 local primary and middle school footballers to watch the match," Liu added.

Valentin Touris, acting consul general of Uruguayan Consulate General in Chongqing, expressed his gratitude and anticipation for the organization of the tour, adding that the activity will boost sports and youth cooperation between the two countries.

"Uruguay is of course a country of football. Most of the footballs that will come to Shaanxi have proved their talents during the U-20 World Cup and European mainstream football leagues," he said. "I do believe Chinese football fans will see the potential and passion of our athletes during the exciting game."

According to the organizers, the match will also be live broadcast to Uruguay and Panama.