CHICAGO(April 15, 2017) – Major League Soccer announced Saturday that reigning UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid will come to Chicago to take on the best of MLS in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target on August 2 at Soldier Field. The game will air at 8 p.m. CT on FS1, UniMás, TSN and TVA Sports domestically as well as across 170 countries globally.
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Established in 1902, Real Madrid is one of the most successful clubs in the world, having claimed a record 32 La Liga championships and 11 UEFA Champions League titles, as well as capturing the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup on multiple occasions. Under the direction of the legendary Zinedine Zidane, Los Blancos currently sit atop the La Liga table and are in the quarterfinals of the 2016-2017 UEFA Champions League tournament. The club is home to internationally renowned stars such as four-time Ballon d’Or recipient Cristiano Ronaldo, 27-year-old star Gareth Bale, and four-time La Liga Best Defender Sergio Ramos.
Watch: Schweinsteiger on Real Madrid in MLS All-Star Game
“It is an honor to represent Major League Soccer and to work with our League’s great players in a match against one of the top clubs in the word,” said Chicago Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic. “I know how special it is to compete against Real Madrid and I think our players and fans will also enjoy the experience."
See More: Chicago-Fire.com/All-Star
Fans have three options for immediately securing a ticket to the 2017 MLS All-Star Game: the Fire All-Star Game Plan, the All-Star Group 2-Pack, or by becoming a Chicago Fire Season Ticket Holder for access to an exclusive pre-sale beginning Monday. Fans interested in these options should call 888-MLS-FIRE (888-657-3473) today to speak with a Fire ticket representative or visit Chicago-Fire.com/tickets for package details. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, May 4 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.com. For the ultimate fan experience, visit MLSsoccer.com/ASG for VIP ticket package details.
This will mark the first time a team from Spain's La Liga will appear in the MLS All-Star Game. The MLS All-Stars have previously faced clubs from the England’s Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, Mexico's Liga MX and the Scottish Premier League, owning an 8-4-1 record against some of the world’s most decorated clubs.
Four Fire players have previous MLS All-Star Game experience. Midfielders Juninho and Dax McCarty took part in the 2015 edition, a 2-1 win by the MLS All-Stars over Tottenham Hotspur at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. In his rookie season, Brandon Vincent was selected to the roster for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif. Prior to joining the Fire, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger featured for the visiting FC Bayern Munchen in the 2014 MLS All-Star game held at Providence Park in Portland, Ore.
“I remember the 2014 All-Star Game quite well. It’s something different, we don’t have it in Europe so I really enjoyed the match,” said Schweinsteiger. “It’s great for the city of Chicago to have a big team like Real Madrid at Soldier Field. Chicago is city of sport, and to have this kind of team in our city means a lot.”
Soldier Field, with a capacity of 61,500, has played host to some of the most exciting sporting and entertainment events in the world including CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, World Cup Qualifiers, 1994 FIFA World Cup matches, and last summer’s Copa America Centenario. Not only has Soldier Field hosted a wealth of international soccer events, the venerable Chicago landmark also has a rich MLS legacy, as it was home to the Chicago Fire for the club's first four seasons, from 1998-2001, then again from 2003-2005. The Fire owned a 62-23-10 record (.705 winning percentage) in their home games at Soldier Field, a span which also includes the club's three appearances in MLS Cup.
In addition to the match, MLS will host nearly a week of events surrounding the game, including concerts, community service initiatives, player appearances, as well as an additional showcase match featuring the best young players from across the league.
MLS ALL-STAR GAMES
1996: East 3, West 2 (E. Rutherford, N.J.)
1997: East 5, West 4 (E. Rutherford, N.J.)
1998: MLS USA 6, MLS World 1 (Orlando, Fla.)
1999: West 6, East 4 (San Diego, Calif.)
2000: East 9, West 4 (Columbus, Ohio)
2001: East 6, West 6 (San Jose, Calif.)
2002: MLS 3, U.S. National Team 2 (Washington, D.C.)
2003: MLS 3, CD Guadalajara 1 (Carson, Calif.)
2004: East 3, West 2 (Washington, D.C.)
2005: MLS 4, Fulham FC 1 (Columbus, Ohio)
2006: MLS 1, Chelsea FC 0 (Bridgeview, Ill.)
2007: MLS 2, Celtic FC 0 (Commerce City, Colo.)
2008: MLS 3, West Ham United FC 2 (Toronto, Ont., Canada)
2009: MLS 1, Everton FC 1 (Everton 4-3 pen) (Sandy, Utah)
2010: Manchester United FC 5, MLS 2 (Houston, Texas)
2011: Manchester United FC 4, MLS 0 (Harrison, N.J.)
2012: MLS 3, Chelsea FC 2 (Chester, Pa.)
2013: A.S. Roma 3, MLS 1 (Kansas City, Kan.)
2014: MLS 2, FC Bayern Munich 1 (Portland, Ore.)
2015: MLS 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Denver, Colo.)
2016: MLS 1, Arsenal FC 2 (San Jose, Calif.)
2017: MLS vs. Real Madrid (Soldier Field, August 2, FS1, UniMás, TSN, TVA Sport)
