Soccer:There will be little time to rest for Manchester United's international players this summer with the club revealing plans to tour North America immediately after the World Cup.
The Red Devils have released details of their annual pre-season trip, beginning on July 12th, the day after the World Cup final.
After a short training camp in Chicago, base of their new shirt sponsors Aon, United will head for Toronto for a meeting with Celtic at the Rogers Center on July 16th.
From there Alex Ferguson’s men will venture south into the United States to Lincoln Financial Field, where United played on their 2003 and 2004 tours, and an encounter with Philadelphia Union on July 21st.
Kansas City Wizards provide the opposition at the Arrowhead Stadium on July 25th, with the United States portion of the tour concluding on July 28th with a game against the MLS All-Stars in the Reliant Stadium.
United will then fly to Mexico for the opening of Chivas’ new 45,000-seater stadium in Guadalajara, a game that forms part of the agreement for Javier Hernandez’s summer switch to Old Trafford.
Although the Red Devils’ World Cup stars, including Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, will not be involved, there are plenty of star names set to be in Ferguson’s squad, including Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Edwin van der Sar, Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov.
“It is great to be going back to North America,” said Ferguson. “I enjoyed the last two tours there immensely. The quality of the facilities are outstanding and there is a real enthusiasm in the crowds.”