Vienna: South Korea will face Austria in Vienna in a pre-World Cup friendly match this spring, the national football federation announced Tuesday. The Korea Football Association (KFA) stated that South Korea and Austria will compete at Ernst-Happel-Stadion in the Austrian capital at 8:45 p.m. on March 31 local time, or 3:45 a.m. on April 1 in South Korean time.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this will mark the first match between these two countries. In the latest FIFA rankings released Tuesday, South Korea is ranked at No. 22, while Austria is two spots below.

Both nations have qualified for this year's FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. South Korea secured their place by winning their group in the Asian qualifiers. Austria topped their group in Europe, overcoming Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, earning their first World Cup ticket since 1998.

The KFA expressed that the match against Austria is intended to prepare the national team for a World Cup group stage match against a European opponent. South Korea has been drawn into Group A with Mexico, South Africa, and a European playoff winner to be determined in March. Denmark, the Czech Republic, Ireland, and North Macedonia are competing for that spot.

The KFA also noted that the Vienna match will be the second of two matches they are scheduling during the March 23-31 FIFA international match window. The first match will also take place in Europe.