News
JUE 05.05.2016
Once the LaLiga season is all done and dusted, SD Eibar will be jetting out to the United States to participate in the LFP World Challenge. The initiative, which is now into its third year, aims to promote the image of LaLiga clubs internationally.
The Armeros, who are set to take part in the programme for the first time, will face two LaLiga World fixtures during their stay in the United States. First up, they will head over to the East Coast, where they'll play the Philadelphia Fury on 22 May at the Richard Wackar Stadium. Originally formed in 1978, the Fury have been members of the American Soccer League (ASL) since 2014.
After this first game, Eibar will travel the breadth of the country to reach their next destination, the iconic city of Las Vegas, where the Basques will come up against a well-established name in the game, the New York Cosmos. The Sam Boyd Stadium, which boasts a capacity of 36,800, will play host to the encounter on 25 May. The New York-based side, who play in the North American Soccer League, have gained fame as the club to have been graced by the footballing talents of legends like Pele; Franz Beckenbauer; Liga BBVA ambassador, Marcos Senna; and the LaLiga country manager for the United States, Raul Gonzalez.
In the words of Eibar's director of football, Fran Garagarza, the tour "is important on a sporting level as it enables the club to open itself up internationally and go global." The trip will be a very special one for Eibar given that many of the club's shareholders are based in the United States. In addition, the US is also home to the very active Peña Eibar USA (the Eibar USA supporters' group).
Alongside Eibar, Real Sociedad are also set to head out to the United States to play two LaLiga World fixtures. La Real will take on the San Jose Earthquakes on 18 May and the Houston Dynamo on 24 May.
© LALIGA - 2016