The Chicago Fire will play host to English Premier League side Everton FC on July 30 at TOYOTA PARK, the club announced Friday.
The game will be the second in-season exhibition match with a non-U.S. club for the Fire, who played Wisla Krakow of Poland to a listless 0-0 draw last week. The Fire were scheduled to play Jagiellonia of Poland Saturday but that game was cancelled when Jagiellonia had to keep its best players at home for a Polish league playoff game.
The game marks only the second time the Fire have played a team from the EPL. Back in 1999, the Fire played Derby County at their old home, Soldier Field.
Everton had a very successful EPL season, finishing fifth in the overall standings. That will guarantee Everton a return to the UEFA Cup next season. In this year's UEFA Cup, Everton went 8-1-1 and was eliminated in a shootout against Fiorentina of Italy.
Everton also reached the semifinal of the Football League Cup before losing out to Chelsea.
The Wednesday night game will be sandwiched by a game at Kansas City July 27 and a home game vs. Chivas USA Aug. 2.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
