The United States will face China in a friendly soccer match Saturday, in the California city of San Jose.  Mike O'Sullivan reports from Los Angeles, the game will test both teams in advance of separate regional competitions.

The US football team practices

The game will help the United States prepare for the Gold Cup, the regional championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean.  The U.S. team is defending champion.

US goalkeeper Kasey Keller

"For some players that don't have experience, it's so important for some of those younger players to perform in the friendlies to be given a chance in the games that matter, so for them it's huge," he explained.  "Maybe for me, I'm coming off an injury, so for me, it's nice to get a little bit of a game in to make sure everything is going in the right direction, before it matters."

Lee Nguyen

"It's a great experience to be called up and it's an honor," he said.  "So I'm very happy.  And I just want to get in and show what I can do."

Upcoming U.S. matches will also be a test for new coach Bob Bradley, who says the U.S. team must maintain momentum through June.

US Coach Bob Bradley

The Gold Cup will be played in six U.S. cities June 6 through June 24.  Then the U.S. team will play as a guest nation in South America's Copa America in Venezuela June 26 through mid-July.

China's team will take on the Los Angeles Galaxy and Colorado Rapids June 5 and June 10 as part of their warmup for the Asian Cup.