Chinese national soccer team will play its first home qualifier of the Russia 2018 World Cup against Hong Kong in Shenzhen on Sept 3, according to the organizers.

The game is expected to attract a large number of fans from both sides as the home ground, Shenzhen Bao'an Stadium, is adjacent to Hong Kong, said Qi Jun, director of the competition division of the Chinese Football Association.

After the Shenzhen game, the Chinese national team will fly to Maldives, to prepare for its third World Cup qualifier on Sept 9.

After being a bye in the first round of the qualifiers, China won 6-0 against Bhutan in its Russia World Cup qualification debut. Hong Kong, meanwhile, won two games against Bhutan and Maldives in the first two rounds.