Americans hoping to make the World Cup squad will have a crucial showcase match at Ukraine on March 5 to show what they can do, US coach Jurgen Klinsmann announced Thursday.

The friendly falls on the only international fixture date ahead of the May selection of the US lineup for the global football showdown in Brazil starting in June.

"Ukraine is a very talented team and was very unfortunate not to qualify for the World Cup," Klinsmann said. "We want to continue to make statements that we can get results in games like these.

"Since this is our only chance to bring in all the players before the pre-World Cup training camp, this is a huge opportunity for them to make their case to be included on the 23-man roster for Brazil."

Ukraine, ranked 18th by FIFA, is the top-rated national side not to qualify for the World Cup, missing out after dropping a playoff qualifying series against France.

Ukraine has two wins and a draw against the US squad, all on US soil, in the all-time rivalry, the most recent matchups being 2-1 and 1-0 wins in October of 1993. This will be their first meeting in the Ukraine.

The Americans, now training in Sao Paulo in a World Cup camp dry run featuring mostly US-based talent, will face South Korea on February 1 at Los Angeles in their first friendly of the year.

The Americans were drawn into a first-round group with Portugal, featuring Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo; Ghana, the team that eliminated the US team from the 2006 and 2010 World Cups; and Germany, the team Klinsmann coached in 2006 and starred for in his playing days.