FC Barcelona now knows is full schedule of games included in this July's Barça in the US: Summer Tour 2022. In addition to friendlies already announced against Inter Miami FC on July 19 and the New York Red Bulls on July 30, Xavi Hernández will also be preparing for the forthcoming season with games against Real Madrid on July 23 in Las Vegas and Juventus on July 26 in Dallas.
Second Clásico in the United States
Soccer fans in the US are going to be treated to another Clásico on July 23 at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, which holds 65,000 spectators and is the home of the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL.
Barça and Real Madrid are meeting on US soil for the second time, having previously met on 30 July 2017 at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami before a sold out crowd of 64,000 in a game ultimately won by the Catalans, 3-2 with goals from Leo Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Piqué. There have been two other occasions when the sides met outside of Spain. The most recent was the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup earlier this very year in Riyadh, which also ended 3-2 but this time to Real, while the earliest of all was In Barquisimeto, Venezuela on 30 May 1982, also ending in a Madrid victory, that time 1-0.
FC Barcelona have been to the USA no fewer than 12 times in the past, but this will their first ever trip to Vegas.
Barça vs Juve at the Cotton Bowl, Dallas
Three days later, on July 26, the blaugrana will be taking on Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus at the Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas.
It will be the fifth time that Barça have met the Serie A side in the US. The first two were both in 1969, one on May 30 at the Yankee Stadium, New York, a 3-2 win for the Catalans, and another five days later in Chicago, which also ended in Barça victory, 1-0. The teams drew 2-2 in 2003 in Boston, and Barça were again victorious in 2017, this time 2-1 at the MetLife, New Jersey.
Juventus have also been the guests on two occasions at the Joan Gamper Trophy, the traditional preseason event in Barcelona. In 2005 they tied 2-2, with Juve claiming the trophy on penalties, and in 2021, at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, Barça won the fixture 3-0.
This year's venue, the Cotton Bowl, holds 92,100 people and has been used by various college and pro American football teams over the years, as well as by Major League Soccer side FC Dallas in MLS. It also hosted six games at the 1994 World Cup, including the thrilling quarter final in which Brazil beat Holland 3-2.
These matches against Real Madrid and Juventus are part of the Soccer Champions Tour, organized by the sports and entertainment company AEG, in which the Mexican teams Club América and Club Deportivo Guadalajara are also participating.
Inter Miami CF and New York Red Bulls of MLS
Barça in the US: Summer Tour 2022 is being completed by the previously confirmed games with MLS clubs Inter Miami FC and New York Red Bulls. The former will be the opposition for the first game of the tour on July 19 at 7.30 pm (local time) at the DRV PNK Stadium de Miami. The clash with the New York Red Bulls will close the tour on July 30 (7.00 local time) at the Red Bull Arena, New Jersey.