FC Cincinnati to face Liga MX's Chivas Guadalajara in September friendly

FC Cincinnati will face Club Deportivo Guadalajara in a September friendly as part of the Leagues Cup Showcase staged by Major League Soccer and Liga MX, Mexico's top flight of soccer.

The Sept. 21 match at TQL Stadium between Cincinnati and the famed "Chivas" side will be one of five showcase matches to take place later this summer.

“We are thrilled to host Chivas of Guadalajara at TQL Stadium,” FC Cincinnati co-chief executive officer Jeff Berding said in a statement. “Cincinnati has hosted a number of incredible international soccer events, including FC Cincinnati’s match against Crystal Palace prior to joining MLS in 2019, which at the time was the largest soccer crowd in Ohio history, a U.S. National Team World Cup Qualifier versus Mexico, and other US Men’s and Women’s friendlies. It’s an honor to continue that history with an exciting Leagues Cup Showcase match for our fans this September as we look forward to the full competition in 2023.”

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Additional information including broadcast information and kickoff time will be announced at a later date.

Chivas, nicknamed "the Goats," is a 116-year-old club and an iconic brand in Mexican soccer. The club's red-striped kits are easily recognized, as are the club's many on-field successes.

In recent years, Chivas has won Liga MX, the Concacaf Champions League and participated in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Like Cincinnati, Guadalajara bid to be a host city for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, and Chivas' Akron Stadium was one of three Mexican venues selected to host games.

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The international friendly match is the fourth of its kind for FC Cincinnati since its inception.

The club previously hosted Espanyol of Spain's top-tier La Liga in 2018.

In 2017, FC Cincinnati hosted La Liga's Valencia.

The first-ever FC Cincinnati friendly was staged against Crystal Palace FC of the English Premier League in 2016.

Ticketing information

From FC Cincinnati: Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 9:00 a.m. EST on Monday, July 18.

Beginning today (Thursday), FC Cincinnati Season Ticket Members can purchase tickets in their existing seat locations through an offer in their SeatGeek account.

Season Ticket Members will also have the opportunity to purchase additional tickets at a discounted price through an exclusive pre-sale on Thursday, July 14th.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati to face Liga MX's Chivas Guadalajara in September friendly