The United States will once again host some of the biggest clashes in off-season soccer this summer, as the Soccer Champions Tour begins on July 22 at the NRG Stadium in Houston, with Barcelona facing Juventus.
Residents of the USA will have the opportunity to watch Europe's elite soccer clubs go head-to-head, and this 'mini tour' will run from the end of July until the start of August, with eight high-level meetings scheduled in multiple states.
Six European giants will compete in the US summer tour, two each from England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and Italy's Serie A. They include Manchester United, Barcelona, Juventus, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, each of which will compete in either/and California, Texas, Nevada, and Florida.
The tour was established by a global investment firm, Sixth Street, to evolve the continued growth of elite-level sports franchises by arranging highly competitive events for millions of fans outside the biggest clubs' domestic markets.
Sixth Street Co-Founder and CEO Alan Waxman said: "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. 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 the series into a format with real games of consequence."
The 2023 Soccer Champions Tour Schedule:
- Barcelona vs. Juventus – July 22 at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
- Real Madrid vs. AC Milan – July 23 at Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles, California
- Barcelona vs. Arsenal – July 26 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
- Real Madrid vs. Manchester United – July 26 at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Juventus vs. AC Milan – July 27 at Dignity Health Sports Park Stadium, Carson, California
- Real Madrid vs. Barcelona – July 29 at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Barcelona vs. AC Milan – August 1 at Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
- Real Madrid vs. Juventus – August 2 at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
And yes, you may have noticed a special fixture between Real Madrid and Barcelona, as the long-time Spanish rivals will revisit their El Classico rivalry on American shores.
Manchester United is Back in the United States
With that said, it's no surprise that many US-based soccer fans are excited about the return of Manchester United. The Red Devils have long been a beloved club worldwide, but they're notably one of the most popular Premier League clubs in the United States.
The fandom of the Red Devils in the USA will reward fans with multiple opportunities to watch their team play live. Before the 2023 Soccer Champions Tour, United's first pre-season friendly on US soil will be at the MetLife Stadium in New York. They'll face EPL rivals Arsenal, which is why this fixture isn't scheduled on the mini-tour.
They'll then collide with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney-owned side Wrexham at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego before starting their Soccer Champions Tour just a day later versus Madrid.
Manchester United playing in the United States is an unforgettable experience for Phoenix Red Devil fans and a chance for sports bettors using Caesars Sportsbook Arizona to win big. But the Phoenix-based fan base of United is just one of many huge followings the North English side has in the US, and a big turnout for each of their friendly meetings is expected as usual.
And if avid United fans and sports bettors fail to attend any of those games, you needn't worry. Manchester United will close their US tour at the Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium. Four days after the club's final Soccer Champions Tour fixture against Real Madrid, they'll clash with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in a farewell to North American fans.
Manchester United 2023 Pre-Season Fixtures in the USA:
- Arsenal vs. Manchester United – July 22 at MetLife Stadium, New York
- Manchester United vs. Wrexham – July 25 at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California
- Manchester United vs. Real Madrid – July 26 at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Manchester United vs. Borussia Dortmund – July 30 at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
