The Red Devils will take the field at Beijing's Workers' Stadium on July 26 as part of an Asian tour, club officials were cited as saying by the China Daily Wednesday.

"We hope that by playing the pre-season match in Beijing we will encourage local youngsters to take up the sport and inspire some of them to reach the very highest levels of professional soccer," said club commercial director Andy Anson.

It will be the English team's first appearance in Beijing. They played an exhibition game in Shanghai in 1999.

"You can be sure we will bring our full squad of players to Beijing, subject to injuries," said Anson.

The former Premiership champions will also play in Hong Kong on July 23.

Asia is seen as a key market for the world's richest sports club and over the past three years it has opened at least 10 of its own "Mega Stores" across the continent.

To further boost interest in their Beijing match, Anson said United's Chinese signing Dong Fangzhou would likely be part of the team.

Dong joined the club in 2003 in a three-year deal worth 3.5 million pounds (6.4 million dollars) and was loaned out to FC Antwerp in a bid to acquire top-flight experience before beginning his career in the Premiership.