CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chelsea FC and Real Madrid FC, two of the world's biggest soccer clubs, will meet in an international friendly match at Bank of America Stadium this summer, Tepper Sports & Entertainment announced on Tuesday.
The match will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Exclusive pre-sale tickets will be available starting March 25 with general on-sale tickets hitting the market on March 27. The huge matchup is part of the Soccer Champions Tour, which brings the world's best clubs to North America for a series of friendly exhibitions. Other host cities include New York, Baltimore and Chicago. Participating clubs include FC Barcelona, Manchester City and AC Milan.
“Since Tepper Sports & Entertainment’s investment to bring Major League Soccer to Charlotte, the city’s international footprint in the world’s game has exploded,” Charlotte FC President Joe LaBue said. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Soccer Champions Tour to Uptown Charlotte this summer. One of our core objectives will always be about growing the game and Charlotte’s reputation as a soccer city. Real Madrid and Chelsea are undeniably two of the most recognizable brands in the world with Charlotte serving as center stage on Aug. 6."
Real Madrid is on pace to win its 36th La Liga title this season. The club is Europe's winningest team with 14 Champions League crowns. Led by superstars Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, this will be Real Madrid's first appearance in Charlotte.
Chelsea FC will be making its second Charlotte appearance in three years. Led by English star Cole Palmer and World Cup champion Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea FC is a two-time Champions League winner and holds six Premier League title. Charlotte FC defeated Chelsea 5-3 on penalty kicks during the club's inaugural season.
The highly anticipated match will come on the heels of the Copa América semifinal and third-place playoff match at Bank of America Stadium. The semifinal match will be played on July 10 with the third-place game coming on July 13. Ten South American teams plus six from North and Central America and the Caribbean will take part in the 2024 Copa América. The four semifinalists in the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League will qualify along with two winners from play-in games among the four quarterfinal losers.
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