Ireland will face old rivals Mexico and Saudi Arabia as well as emerging African nation Ivory Coast in the World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates in late March and early April.

The side, which won a four- nation tournament in Abu Dhabi against the UAE, France and Korea last week, must play their games in the oppressive heat of the inland oasis city of Al-Ain where temperatures will often climb over 30 degrees Celsius.

"It's an inland city which I suppose will mean that it will be difficult for training in," said Noel O'Reilly, who will travel with the side in the early stages to help ensure an easy transition from the management of Brian Kerr to the as-yet, unnamed, new man.

O'Reilly spoke of his amazement that Ireland will once again be facing Saudi Arabia and Mexico who they met the last time Ireland were in the Championships in 1999, beating Saudi Arabia 2-0 but losing 1-0 to Mexico while Ireland also came up against Saudi Arabia in 1985 in the Soviet Union but lost 1-0.

"Three teams in green again," he joked. "It's amazing that we'll meet them again and I suppose it gives us the advantage because the coaches will have experience of preparing teams for that kind of opposition, but the Ivory Coast are going to be no pushovers.

"It's great that countries in that area - because Mali and Burkina Faso are also in the tournament - are now producing good football teams. A few years ago, they wouldn't have even been in the picture and just because we haven't heard of them before doesn't mean we should think that they are an easy three points.

"It's a good group from the point of view that there are four good sides there who will play football, though we can't take anything for granted."

Ireland will start the tournament against Saudi Arabia on March 27th before meeting the Ivory Coast three days later and finishing the group stages against Mexico on April 2nd - the same day as the senior side meet Albania in Tirana. The opening two games will take place at 5:45 p.m. local time (1.45 p.m Irish time) with the final game against Mexico at the later time of 8:30 p.m. (4.30 p.m. Irish time).

Fixtures: Saudi Arabia v Republic of Ireland (March 27th, 1:45 Irish time - Al-Ain). Ivory Coast v Republic of Ireland (March 30th, 1:45 Irish time - Al-Ain). Republic of Ireland v Mexico (April 2nd, 4:30 Irish time - Al-Ain).