England to play Brazil and Ireland in 2013

London: England will play friendlies against Brazil and the Republic of Ireland in 2013 as a way of launching the Football Association’s 150th anniversary, the national governing body said Wednesday.

Five-time World Cup winners Brazil will visit Wembley in February as part of a two-match arrangement that sees England heading to South America for a brief tour in June.

Prior to the home game against Brazil, England will play the Republic of Ireland, also at Wembley, for the first time since their infamous fixture in 1995 was abandoned after a riot by England fans at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road.