Recent weeks have seen a number of announcements regarding international exhibitions involving MLS clubs this summer.
But on Wednsday came the largest international event unveiled thus far: 15 matches, eight clubs and one of the biggest cash prizes at stake in all of North America which sources indicate is a multimillion-dollar purse.
It’s the 2010 edition of SuperLiga, the fourth year of the tournament which pits clubs from MLS and the Mexican Primera División. The two rival leagues partnered to organize the competition back in 2007.
Although full details of the tournament have yet to be released, previous editions have featured a group stage with two groups comprising two clubs from each country. The MLS participants will be the four clubs with the best records from the 2009 season not required to compete in the CONCACAF Champions League: Chicago, Chivas USA, Houston and New England. It will be the third appearance for all of them except the Fire, who will participate in their second SuperLiga.
The four Mexican clubs and their criteria for selection will be determined by the Mexican Federation after the conclusion of the current Liguilla (playoffs) in order to exclude CONCACAF Champions League qualifiers.
The tournament kicks off July 14 and the group stage will wrap up in a span of eight days through July 21. The semifinals and final will be staged in August but the dates and venues will depend on the top two teams that emerge from the group stage.
The group matches will be held at Toyota Park in Chicago, Robertson Stadium in Houston, the Home Depot Center outside Los Angeles and a venue to be determined by the New England Revolution. A Revolution club spokesperson said that Gillette Stadium is available but that the organization is exploring multiple venue options for the matches New England will host.
Mexican clubs hold the slight edge in SuperLiga’s brief history with Pachuca (2007) and Tigres (2009) capturing the title. The New England Revolution claimed the lone championship by an MLS club in 2008, although an MLS team has advanced to the final in each edition.
All three finals were decided on a PK shootout.
