Full schedule including Barcelona-Real Madrid in Dallas

In what is becoming a burgeoning, tradition of making moneyFC Barcelona and Real Madrid bring their famous rivalry to the United States for the second year in a row.

you will play El Clasico, reportedly on July 29 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas as part of the second year of the Soccer Champions Tour.

It will of course be a preparatory game. The tour – which will also feature Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus and AC Milan – is not a tournament like some of its predecessors. It’s essentially eight one-off games set in the middle of the Women’s World Cup and is being heralded by organizers as a “summer series” that will include California, Las Vegas, Texas and Florida.

But the headliner is the game of all games, perhaps the world’s most famous sports rivalry, at the grand stadium of grand stadiums, Jerry World, home of the 105,000 seat Dallas Cowboys aims to host the 2026 World Cup final.

El Clasico is coming to the US

When Barca and Madrid first brought their blood feud to the US in 2017, the concept was ridiculed by some purists; But the exhibition game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami was a resounding success. The Miami Clasico attracted 1.7 million viewers across ESPN platforms and a sold-out crowd willing to shell out hundreds of dollars a piece for tickets. The players really competed against each other. Barcelona’s 3-2 win delighted everyone involved.

It felt like a turning point for me at the time International Champions Cup, the pre-season event that grew to 18 teams and 27 games in nine countries by the end of the last decade. Early 2020 were the organizers in negotiations to inaugurate SoFi Stadium in Southern California this summer with a second Clasico in the United States.

But then came COVID-19. The ICC canceled its 2020 program, during the pandemic it failed and a lawsuit ensued between its parent company, Relevent Sports, and its mastermind, legendary football promoter Charlie Stillitano. The men’s ICC has not been played since.

Relevent is still running a Women’s ICC and other ventures. It works this summer with the English Premier League And Spain’s La Liga on two separate North American tours. But in 2022, the Soccer Champions Tour rushed to Barca and Madrid, organizing a Clasico at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (Barca won 1-0 in front of a boisterous, sold-out crowd.)

In its second year, the Soccer Champions Tour was expanded to include two clubs each from Spain, England and Italy. Sixth Street, a global investment firm that has worked with both Barca and Real Madrid, is the company behind it. AEG produces it. legends is an important partner. And Stillitano was involved as an advisor, according to a source with knowledge of the tour’s development.

Tour schedules for the pre-season

The Soccer Champions Tour announced their full roster for 2023 on Friday:

• Saturday, July 22: Barcelona vs. Juventus – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California

• Sunday 23 July: Real Madrid vs AC Milan – Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

• Wednesday, July 26: Arsenal vs. Barcelona – SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

• Wednesday 26 July: Real Madrid v Manchester United – NRG Stadium, Houston

• Thursday, July 27: Juventus vs. AC Milan – Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California

• Saturday, July 29: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

• Tuesday 1st August: AC Milan vs Barcelona – Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

• Wednesday 2 August: Juventus vs Real Madrid – Camping World Stadium, Orlando

The kick-off times have not yet been determined. In their Friday press release, organizers said that “matches remain subject to approval by the relevant football authorities” but that was likely a technicality.

Separately, Arsenal and Manchester United organized a pre-season friendly on July 22 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. United are also there will play Wrexham in San Diego on July 25th – probably with a reserve team, because a day later they are supposed to play against Real Madrid in Houston. it then will play against Borussia Dortmund in Vegas on July 30th.

Arsenal will too Play the MLS All-Stars on July 19 in Washington, DC

The The Premier League’s own ‘summer series’ Featuring Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Fulham, Brighton and Brentford, with games in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Orlando, New Jersey and Maryland.