Defending World Cup Champions, Spain, will take on El Salvador in an International Friendly at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The game scheduled for June 7th will feature Spain vs. El Salvador at 4 p.m. and then will conclude with D.C. United taking on the Columbus Crew.
This two game series is a part of the “Road to Brazil” tour in anticipation for the 2014 World Cup that will be held in Brazil from June 12th to July 13th. The tour will include six Brazil-bound teams such as Spain, Nigeria and Greece. The tour will begin on May 29th at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. and finishing at FedEx Field, making stops in St. Louis, Philadelphia and Houston. “We really want this to be a celebration of soccer,” Jessica Krueger of Major League Soccer said recently in an interview, “It’s a great opportunity for us to feature an MLS match alongside a national team match, which doesn’t happen very often. The event will also take place less than 5 days out from the World Cup, so it is a great opportunity to catch onto the World Cup fever.”
Major League Soccer has taken off in the last few years adding five new teams in the last four years with two more teams being added in 2015. Krueger hopes that by having two MLS sides play after two international teams will help raise the popularity of D.C. United and the MLS. “This is a great opportunity for D.C. United to play after the World Cup Champions and in front of a great crowd. We are hoping this game exposes and gains many new fans for D.C. United and Major League Soccer.” In 2011, the MLS drew an average attendance of 17,872, higher than the average attendance of the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League.
FedEx Field and D.C. United have hosted many other major soccer teams throughout the years including Chelsea F.C. in 2005, Real Madrid in 2009, Manchester United and Barcelona in 2011. Spain and El Salvador won’t be the only international teams visiting FedEx this summer, Manchester United and Inter Milan will compete in the 2014 Guinness International Champions Cup on July 29th.
When D.C. United takes the field against Columbus Crew it will mark the first time the Black-and-Red have played an MLS Regular Season game on FedEx Field grounds. Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.roadtobrazil.us.
