Sporting KC will hold a Summer in the Soccer Capital series of events this summer, featuring an international friendly against Manchester City of the English Premier League on July 23 at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.
“It is a pleasure to host a world-class club like Manchester City. It will be a great event not only for our fans, but our players as well to measure ourselves against one of the best teams in all of soccer,” said Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes.
“The team is excited and will be ready to face another Premier League team,” said Sporting KC captain Matt Besler. “We have so many memories from the last time we played a team from Manchester and now playing at Sporting Park will make this even better.”
It will be Manchester’s first international friendly against an MLS club since it on the English Premier League and also the first match on its tour of the United States this summer.
Manchester’s forward Sergio Aguero ranks third in the Premier League with 15 goals this season, while Yaya Toure’s 13 goals are tied for fourth most among Premier League players. Fellow attackers Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and David Silva all feature for the world’s No. 1 ranked national team, Spain, and the club’s defense is anchored by England goalkeeper Joe Hart along with a backline of Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Martin Demichelis.
Ticket information for the July 23 match will be announced later.
The Summer in the Soccer Capital event will begin with FIFA World Cup watch parties to be held in the Power and Light District of Kansas City, Mo., according to an announcement from the soccer club.
Admission will be free to the outdoor area at the Power and Light District.
Beginning with the opening match on June 12 and continuing through the World Cup final on July 13, all 64 matches will be shown on a large outdoor video screen in the center at the Power and Light District.