Brazil impressively qualified for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa

The Republic of Ireland will face Brazil in a friendly in March, Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney has confirmed.

The venue for the game, likely to be played on 3 March, has yet to be decided because of doubts over whether Croke Park will be available.

Instead the game could be played in Britain with the Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford both being mentioned.

The match will be a major financial boost for the FAI.

The Republic's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals was a blow for the FAI's coffers but the Brazil match should bring in significant revenue to the Irish governing body.

Croke Park appears to be available for mooted 3 March date but there are suggestions that a British venue may represent a cheaper option for the FAI.

The IRFU will be using Croke Park for the Six Nations opener against Italy on 6 February but the Grand Slams champions' next home game doesn't come until the 13 March clash against Wales.

FAI chief Delaney also revealed that the Irish association has turned down the offer of a special fair play award from Fifa.

The gesture was made after the controversy generated by Thierry Henry's handball in the build-up to the decisive France goal in last month's World Cup play-off.

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