Toronto FC announced Saturday that Club Atlético River Plate of Argentina will visit BMO Field to participate in the annual Carlsberg Cup. The match against River Plate will take place on Wednesday, July 22 and has been included in Toronto FC Season Seat Holder packages.
River Plate will be the team's fifth international visitor to Toronto to play in a friendly, and the second team to battle for the Carlsberg Cup. In 2007, Toronto FC welcomed Portuguese side Benfica and English Premier League club Aston Villa, while in 2008 the club played host to Mexican side Pachuca (Carlsberg Cup winners) and Argentinean team Independiente.
"To bring a club of River Plate's history to Toronto is very exciting for us," said senior director of business operations Paul Beirne. "They are a team steeped in tradition and once again we are pleased to host such an opponent at BMO Field. We look forward to another exciting game with some South American flair that our fans will enjoy."
Established in 1901, River Plate, also known as Los Millonarios, is based in Buenos Aires and is listed as the 9th rated football club in the All-Time World Ranking. The team has been ranked as the best football club in the world six times with the last number one ranking coming in October of 1993. They also hold the distinction as being the only Argentine club ranked as the best World team in a full season (1997-1998) and are truly one of the most storied clubs in South America, let alone Argentina. In 1986 they were truly the best in the world winning the Argentinean league title, Copa Libertadores, Interamerican Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. It was also that year that Argentina won the FIFA World Cup in Mexico. Most recently in 2008, River won their first league title in four years, winning the Argentine Clausura. They have won a record 33 professional championships in their country.
The list of great players is a lengthy one and includes such notable names as Hernan Crespo, Marcelo Gallardo, Ariel Ortega, and Gabriel Batistuta to name just a few. River is currently managed by Nestor Gorosito, who was appointed in 2009.
Ticket sales for this match will be announced in the coming days. Season Seat Holders, Gold and Red waiting lists will get special pre-sale dates, while a public on-sale date for the Carlsberg Cup will follow.
