Major League Soccer and Chelsea FC announced Thursday that the reigning English Premier League champions will face an MLS All-Star team in the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game to be played at the new home of the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview, Ill., on Aug. 5 (live on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. ET).
Standing on the grounds of the nearly complete Bridgeview Stadium at Thursday's announcement, Chelsea business affairs director Paul Smith promised the game will not a usual All-Star game.
"The match will be very competitive. Chelsea doesn't play exhibition games," said Smith. "[Chelsea manager] Jose Mourinho has an American view of sport, the team that comes in second is the first loser."
MLS Commissioner Don Garber echoed those sentiments.
"What you are going to see on August 5 is unique among All-Star games in pro sports. No other league has the ability to bring this type of competition, this type of intrigue with the unique format we have with this game," Garber said. "You saw it when we played Guadalajara of Mexico in years past.
"We are able to show that some of our young guys can go toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the world. Chelsea did play in Washington D.C. last year and around our soccer community that game has been thought of as one of the best soccer events that has ever taken place in the United States outside of the World Cup. It was a packed stadium, passionate fans, Chelsea playing their heart out and our guys going toe-to-toe with them. We're going to see a great day like that on national television on August 5."
Smith assured that "The Blues" squad that takes the field will be star-studded.
"We will be bringing our full first-team squad to the match. We have 17 players on our current squad that will be playing in the World Cup this summer, and that is the most out of any club in Europe," Smith said. "It's a club that is very cosmopolitan in nature as well, having 14 nationalities in the 25-team roster."
The match will likely mark the debut of any summer signings by the London-based club.
"There will be new signings in the summer, some players will be leaving and some players will be arriving, and when the team takes the field August 5, it will be the first occasion when any new signing for Chelsea in the summer will appear in a Chelsea jersey," Smith said.
Smith is excited at the prospect of beginning the club's third successive campaign in the United States.
"Jose wants to start the season on the right note. Each time we have come to the United States we have found it to be ideal preparation for the upcoming season," Smith said.
"[In 2004] we played our preseason here, then went on to win the Premier League for the first time in 50 years. Then last summer we came again, and unless the gods are conspiring against us, within the next 21 days, we should be the repeat champions of the Premier League as well."
Smith pledged that North America will continue to be an area of focus for Chelsea for years to come.
"We will now have been [in North America] for three years in succession and we want to come and play in a tournament [with AEG] in 2007 and in 2009. It will end up being five summers out of six that Chelsea will be in North America," he said.
During its eight-year MLS history, Chicago has not hosted an MLS All-Star Game or MLS Cup Final.
"One of the things we are most excited about with this facility is that it is authentic, and soccer is perhaps one of the most authentic professional sports anywhere in the world and this city has been able to build a building that is going to celebrate the game," Garber said. "This building is going to be a treasure for all the soccer fans in Chicago, throughout this country and the world. We believe our fans deserve this city.
"This is going to mark the first time that one of our marquee national league events comes to Chicago. It's because this facility is so great and it's the first of many events we're going to bring here."
Said Chicago Fire president/CEO John Guppy: "Soccer in Chicago has a tremendous history. We have some of the most educated, passionate and ardent fans that you will find anywhere in the country and being able to bring this event here on August 5 is something we are excited about."
Tickets for the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game are on sale to season ticket holders and fans of the Chicago Fire.
"Our priority is to take care of our fans first and foremost before we open this game up to the general public. As of today, all fans of the Chicago Fire will be allowed to purchase tickets for August 5," said Guppy.
Ivaldo Basso is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
