GUAYAQUIL, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador and the Netherlands will meet in a friendly in March as both teams finalize preparations for next year's FIFA World Cup, the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) said on Monday.

The match will be played on March 30 at a venue that has not yet been decided, FEF said on social media.

Local press reported that FEF is in talks with an African federation for another friendly in the same FIFA international window.

Ecuador earned a direct World Cup berth by finishing second in South America's 10-team qualifying group, behind Argentina and ahead of Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia.

Sebastian Beccacece's side has been drawn in Group E alongside Germany, Cote d'Ivoire and Curacao.

The Netherlands will compete in Group F against Japan, Tunisia and a European qualifier. ■