When in the United States, do as the MLS does. AS Roma will travel across the pond for the second consecutive summer to play a friendly, but this time against the MLS All-Star team.
The match, scheduled for July 31 in Sporting Park in Kansas City, will be the first MLS All-Star game featuring a soccer club outside of the United Kingdom. It also is a little bit of a step down after facing Chelsea months after a Champions League trophy and Manchester United the two years prior.
AS Roma finished sixth in Serie A in 2012/13 and lost to Lazio in the Coppa Italia final. They have just missed the UEFA Europa League the last two seasons.
One big draw is that they are the club that Michael Bradley suits up for, and having him come back to the United States could be a good drawing point. The MLS did something similar when they called in Fulham in 2005 while Carlos Bocanegra was on Fullham.
Last year, the MLS All-Stars stunned Chelsea, winning 3-2 after an extra time goal from Seattle Sounders Forward Eddie Johnson. The MLS is 5-3 against European clubs since the annual tradition started 2005.
ESPN’s Taylor Twellman subtly made the announcement during the United States-Belgium friendly on Wednesday. ESPN will be the carrier of the MLS All-Star game like they have been for most of the MLS’s tenure.
(Photos Courtesy of Getty Images, the Associated Press, and Major League Soccer)
