SAN FRANCISCO: Soccer Champions Tour today announced the launch and schedule for a new series of games featuring six of the world’s most iconic soccer clubs to be played this summer in major markets across the United States. Spain’s Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, Italy’s Juventus Football Club and AC Milan, and England’s Arsenal and Manchester United will compete in eight matches between Saturday, July 22, and Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
The 2023 Soccer Champions Tour is the first time these six clubs, which hold among them 31 European trophies, have participated together in a U.S. series. The eight fixtures will take place in host market stadiums in Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Francisco, a media release said.
Highlights of the 2023 Soccer Champions Tour include Spanish giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona meeting in Texas for the first time ever at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys; Manchester United and Real Madrid facing off for the first time since 2018; FC Barcelona and Arsenal competing in a rematch of the 2006 European final; and Italian rivals AC Milan and Juventus playing each other in California for the first time in their more than 120-year histories.
Soccer Champions Tour was created by a newly formed company of global investment firm Sixth Street to support the continued global growth of top-tier sports franchises by organizing high-profile, competitive events for the millions of fans that live outside the domestic markets of the biggest clubs.
“We are proud to be partnering with the world’s most storied clubs, which have the world’s strongest and most passionate supporters, to provide this rare opportunity for American fans to experience the game at the highest level,” said Alan Waxman, Co-Founder and CEO at Sixth Street. “While this year’s tour consists of men’s clubs, we look forward to expanding next summer to bring the world’s best women’s clubs to local audiences around the globe, and in the future to evolve this series into a format with real games of consequence.”
In addition to men’s and women’s professional club matches, the tour also intends to organize elite youth academy competitions in the years to come.
Soccer Champions Tour is working closely with global premium experiences company Legends to bring these marquee matchups and elevated in-game experiences to local fans of the game.
Added Shervin Mirhashemi, CEO, Legends: “Legends is proud to bring fans of the beautiful game this unforgettable experience this summer and deliver a fan experience that will match the world-class soccer on the pitch. We can’t wait to see stadiums filled across the United States with fans cheering on some of the best clubs in the world as they compete in the Soccer Champions Tour.”
The 2023 Soccer Champions Tour is being produced in partnership with AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company.
“AEG is excited about the partnership with Soccer Champions Tour and Legends to bring the most successful soccer clubs in the world to fans across the U.S.,” said Tom Braun, Sr. Vice President, Soccer & Business Operations and Business Development at AEG. “Every matchup in this series is of the highest caliber and we’re thrilled that American soccer fans will have the opportunity to see these epic games featuring legendary teams live and in person.”
