Arsenal will face Barcelona in a pre-season friendly at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 26 July.
The match will be the third and final leg of a two-week US tour that includes games against the MLS All-Stars at Audi Field in Washington DC on 19 July and Manchester United at MetLife Stadium in New York on 22 July.
Opened in 2020, the 70,000-capacity SoFi Stadium is the home of Stan Kroenke’s Los Angeles Rams and hosted their Super Bowl-winning triumph last year.
Constructed at an estimated cost of $5.5 billion, it is also due to be used at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will be the main venue for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
10 days before the Gunners arrive it will also host the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final which could include Gunners pair Matt Turner and Auston Trusty.
Looking ahead to the friendly, Arsenal’s Sporting Director, Edu said: “Our match against Barcelona in Los Angeles is another great opportunity for Mikel and our men’s first-team squad to prepare for the exciting new season.
“We’re very proud to be playing at the fantastic SoFi Stadium, the home of the LA Rams, in what will be such a special occasion for everyone at our club.
“This is another high-quality match in our visit to the United States in July and we’re so looking forward to meeting our many supporters in Los Angeles.”
Arsenal’s pre-season preparations will start at London Colney in early July. As was the case last year, we’ll then spend a short stint at adidas HQ in Germany before playing FC Nurnberg in a friendly. The Stateside tour will then follow.
The Gunners will likely look to hold a fixture at Emirates Stadium on their return from the US and there’s a chance of being involved in the Community Shield at Wembley (whether we win the title or not) if Manchester City beat United in the FA Cup final.
Oddly excited by this even though its just preseason.
That stadium, whilst being fucking expensive, looks the bollocks.
Shame that it’s being wasted hosting a mindless sport like American football.
Stan should create an American Arsenal “soccer” team and play a proper sport in that stadium.
And yes: it’s the dog’s bollocks.
Tasty fixture
Tasty fixtures
Sounds like Sofi will not be hosting a World Cup match.
https://www.si.com/.amp/soccer/2023/03/19/sofi-stadium-los-angeles-2026-world-cup-final-host-in-jeopardy-per-report
Kroenke Built a stadium that doesn’t fit a football pitch.
Two high profile fixtures on artificial turf fills me with dread…