Champions Tour stopping in NYC
Several of the biggest soccer teams in the world will take the pitch in the New York metropolitan area this summer.
MetLife Stadium and Yankee Stadium will play host to two of the six matches that will be part of the 2024 Soccer Champions Tour, The Post has learned, which takes place from July 27 to Aug. 6 and involves European heavyweights Real Madrid, AC Milan, FC Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea.
The two matches in the New York area pit Man City against AC Milan at Yankee Stadium on July 27 and Real Madrid against FC Barcelona at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 3.
“Soccer Champions Tour is thrilled to return this summer with enticing matchups featuring some of the world’s most storied clubs for fans in the U.S. to witness the beautiful game at the highest level,” commissioner of Soccer Champions Tour Joe Carr said in a statement. “With all five clubs possessing passionate supporters that span the globe, we’re pleased to unveil an exciting range of matches throughout the U.S., a market experiencing exponential growth in the sport’s popularity.”
Matches will also take place in Orlando, Fla. (Barcelona-Manchester City), Chicago (AC Milan-Real Madrid), Baltimore (Barcelona-AC Milan) and Charlotte , N.C. (Real Madrid-Chelsea), as part of the tour.
New York has long been a summer stop for touring international clubs, but this carries some extra significance as the metropolitan area gears up to host the World Cup final in 2026. MetLife Stadium was selected by FIFA last month to host the coveted game, beating out AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, among other potential sites.
With the World Cup coming to North America in two short years’ time, the profile of the sport is growing, and friendlies featuring some of the biggest teams in soccer can only help generate more interest.
AC Milan boasts U.S. men’s national team star Christian Pulisic on the roster. Pulisic has been red-hot in his debut season with the Serie A club. He has 12 goals this season for AC Milan and has scored in four straight games recently.
It’s also fitting that AC Milan and Man City will make a stop at Yankee Stadium with both clubs having ties to the Yankees.
The Bronx Bombers own a minority stake in AC Milan, and they partnered with City Football Group, owners of Man City, in establishing MLS’ New York City Football Club, which plays part of its home schedule at Yankee Stadium.
Man City faced Chelsea in The Bronx in 2013, days after MLS announced NYCFC would join the league as its 20th franchise.
Real Madrid, already boasting a lineup led by midfielder Jude Bellingham, is expected to add superstar forward Kylian Mbappe in a marquee move this summer. The August match will be Real Madrid’s third time playing at MetLife Stadium, and FC Barcelona’s second.
Barcelona last played in the area in 2022 when the Spanish giants faced the New York Red Bulls in a friendly at Red Bull Arena.
Pre-sale tickets for all matches will be available March 25, and general tickets go on sale March 27 via the Soccer Champions Tour website.