TOKYO: Japan will host Paraguay in a friendly match in September, the Japan Football Association said on Friday, just over two months after the South American side knocked them out of the World Cup.

The association also said Japan will take on arch rivals South Korea the following month.

The Blue Samurai were beaten 5-3 by Paraguay on penalties after a goalless draw in the first group stage in the South Africa finals.

However, Japan will be get the chance to exact revenge when the two sides meet again for a friendly at the Yokohama stadium on September 4.

The match will also be the first for Japan`s yet-to-be-named coach, who is to be chosen by the association soon. A JFA technical director is presently in Europe to hold talks with three candidates to take over from Takeshi Okada, who has been elected to the JFA board of directors.

Several foreign names have been raised by Japanese media as a possible successor to Okada, including Spain`s World Cup winning coach Vicente Del Bosque.

Japan are also booked to play Guatemala on September 7 in Osaka, while another friendly at the Saitama stadium has been pencilled in for October 8, although no team has so far been decided, the JFA said.

Japan will travel to Seoul to play South Korea on October 12.

BDST: 2124 HRS, AUGUST 06, 2010