Some of the most popular clubs on the West Coast will face off next month when the Seattle Sounders play host to Club Tijuana, the two teams announced Thursday.
The international friendly between MLS and Liga MX clubs will take place on March 24 at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field. The game will be preceded by a match between the clubs’ academies.
“We are excited to welcome Club Tijuana to Seattle – one of the premier clubs in Mexico’s top flight,” Sounders FC owner Adrian Hanauer said in a team release. “It has been a stated goal of our club to excel in the CONCACAF Champions League, and competing against a team like Xolos allows us to prepare for the rigors of this year’s tournament and to test our players against some of the top talent in our region.”
Tijuana are currently second in the Clasura 2015 and are coming off a semifinals appearance in the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League.
“We are delighted to have this match against the Sounders,” Club Tijuana deputy general manager Roberto Cornejo said in a statement. “We are grateful for the opportunity to play in a region with a huge soccer following. This can only be a great experience for both clubs.”
The Supporters’ Shield-winning Sounders kick off the MLS regular season against the New England Revolution on March 8 and begin play in the 2015-16 CCL later this summer.
“Winning the CONCACAF Champions League is a priority for our organization, and we’re going to begin our preparations for this tournament by taking on a great Xolos team in March,” Sounders general manager and president of soccer Garth Lagerwey said. “Club Tijuana represents the type of team we’ll face in CONCACAF play, and to host them on a big stage in front of our fans will be a great test for our players.
“If you’re a Sounders supporter, if you believe in what Sounders FC can be in the long-term, and if you believe the club can matter on the world stage, we have to win this tournament. We have to win the Champions League, and the only way to get there is to play games like this.”
Founded in 2007, Club Tijuana became the fastest team in Mexican football history to earn a Liga MX championship following promotion to the top flight in 2010. Just two years later, the club captured the 2012 Liga MX Apertura championship with a win over Toluca. That victory earned Xolos an invite to the 2013 Copa Libertadores – South America’s top club competition – where Tijuana reached the quarterfinal round.
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Club Tijuana recently finished 11th in the 2014 Apertura with 21 points (4-4-9), falling short of the postseason.
“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to play a top Mexican team in this kind of an exhibition game,” Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid said. “Outside of playing Chivas a few years ago, we’ve never really had the chance to prepare for CONCACAF Champions League against a team that uses the style of play we’ll see throughout the tournament.”
In addition to the first team and academy matches, there will be community events and clinics involving first-team players, technical staff members from both sides and academy coaches. These events are set to take place on March 24 in advance of matchday activities.
