SYDNEY - AFC Asian Cup quarter-finalists Australia will face China in an international friendly on October 13 at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Socceroos reached the last eight in their maiden appearance at the Asian Cup last month before suffering a penalty shootout defeat by Japan, while China failed to progress out of the group stage.

Australia will also face Argentina at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11 before their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign begins in February.

The five nations that qualified for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany - Australia, Iran, Japan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia - have been given direct byes into Round Three of the qualifiers.

"Australia's qualifying for the 2010 World Cup starts in February next year and this match is vital to our preparations as we start the journey to South Africa," said Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley.

"China were finalists at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup and will provide strong opposition. We have two crucial matches with the Socceroos also playing Argentina in Melbourne on 11 September and these games will give the fans a great opportunity to see the national team in action."

Australia played China in March in Guangzhou and won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Brett Holman and Mark Bresciano.

China's failure to reach the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup looks to have cost coach Zhu Guanghu his job, with current Olympic team boss Ratomir Dujkovic set to oversee the first round World Cup qualifying clash with Myanmar on October 8 and 28.