Argentina is to face Italy in an exhibition football match dedicated to Pope Francis, an Argentine and well-known soccer fan.

The friendly will take place at 20.45 on Wednesday 14 August at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

The match date follows month of talks and was announced by the Italian Football Federation which confirmed that both squads will be granted an audience with the pope at the Vatican.

The last time Italy played against Argentina was in Rome in 2001, a friendly which Argentina won 2-1. Under the captainship of football legend Diego Maradona, Argentina knocked host Italy out of the 1990 World Cup on penalties in a semi-final match in Naples.