The Republic of Ireland will play Italy in a friendly match at Craven Cottage in London on Saturday 31 May.

The match against the four-time World Cup winners comes six days after the home friendly against Turkey, and forms part of Martin O’Neill’s preparations for the Euro 2016 qualifiers starting in September.

The game will also play an important role in Cesare Prandelli’s preparations for Brazil, where his side has been drawn in Group D alongside England, Uruguay and Costa Rica.

It will be Ireland’s 14th encounter with the Azzurri, having won two and drawn two of the previous 13 meetings.

They have been familiar opponents recent times, meeting twice in 2010 World Cup qualification, again at a 2011 friendly in Belgium and most recently at Euro 2012.

The game will kick off at 7.45pm.

The FAI have also said they are close to adding additional fixtures with games against Costa Rica and Portugal rumoured.

Live television coverage of St Patrick’s Athletic v Limerick from 15:00 on Saturday 22 March on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie (Ireland only).