Messi, FC Barcelona coming to Hard Rock

FC Barcelona announced Friday that its entire first team, including star Argentine forward Lionel Messi, will travel with the club to the United States for the inaugural LaLiga-Serie A Cup, a two-game series between Barcelona and SSC Napoli at Hard Rock Stadium on Aug. 7 and Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Aug. 10.

Messi will be joined by marquee teammates Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Frankie de Jong on a starstudded roster. Napoli has also confirmed it will debut its first team internationally in the LaLiga-Serie A Cup.

The series will feature two of the most successful franchises in their respective leagues. Barcelona is a 26-time LaLiga and fivetime UEFA Champions League champion. It holds the league record for most Copa del Rey (30) and Supercopa de España (13) titles.

Napoli is recognized internationally as one of the most successful Italian clubs, winning two league titles, five Coppa Italias, two Supercoppa Italiana titles and one UEFA Cup. The series marks Napoli’s first trip to the United States in 30 years.

“The creation of the LaLiga-Serie A Cup is in line with our mission to create more opportunities for U.S. fans to celebrate LaLiga,” said LaLiga President Javier Tebasn in a statement in June.

“We look forward to this new annual tradition to bring our clubs to America each summer.”

The two prominent American football venues also hold significant international soccer accolades.

Hard Rock Stadium hosted the first El Clasico in the U.S. in 2017, when Barcelona defeated rival Real Madrid 3-2.