International soccer superpower Manchester United today announced the 23-player travel roster for their upcoming North American tour that includes a stop in Kansas City July 25 to play the Wizards. Tickets for the first-ever event in the New Arrowhead Stadium are going fast, with over 40,000 sold to date. The list of international superstars coming to Kansas City includes legendary midfielders Ryan Giggs (Wales) and Paul Scholes (England), as well as Edwin Van der Sar (Holland), Nani (Portugal) and Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria). Giggs is the only player in English football history to win 11 Premier League championship medals. This record is the equivalent of an American football player winning 11 Super Bowl rings or a baseball player capturing 11 World Series titles.
A limited number of lower-level seats are still available for the friendly versus Manchester United. Fans are encouraged to act quickly to reserve their seats before all lower-level seats are sold out. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Special packages are also available through the Kansas City Wizards and can be purchased by calling 1-888-4KC-GOAL.
The Manchester United match provides another opportunity for Kansas Citians to show their passion for the sport as part of the highly successful Summer of Soccer. The 12,000-person crowd for the USA-Ghana Round of 16 match was shown live on ABC’s game broadcast and seen by over 15 million people in the U.S. The Wizards will again host a watch party for Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands at Power & Light District.
Fans can show their support for the bid to bring the World Cup to Kansas City by texting “KansasCity” to 22442 or signing the petition online at www.goUSAbid.com/KC. Kansas City is one of 18 cities still in the running to host matches should the USA bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup be successful. FIFA will select the host nation for both 2018 and 2022 on December 2, 2010.
CREDENTIAL INFORMATION
Media members who do not have Kansas City Wizards full-season credentials are required to register for credentials for the Manchester United match by Tuesday, July 13. Credentials are available from Soccer United Marketing through this website.
MANCHESTER UNITED 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Ben Amos (ENG), Tomasz Kuszczak (POL), Edwin van de Sar (NED)
DEFENDERS: Wes Brown (ENG), Fabio Da Silva (BRA), Rafael Da Silva (BRA), Ritchie De Laet (BEL), Corry Evans (NIR), Jonny Evans (NIR), John O'Shea (IRL), Chris Smalling (ENG)
MIDFIELDERS: Tom Cleverley (ENG), Darren Fletcher (SCO), Darron Gibson (IRL), Ryan Giggs (WAL), Nani (POR), Gabriel Obertan (FRA), Paul Scholes (ENG)
FORWARDS: Dimitar Berbatov (BUL), Mame Biram Diouf (SEN), Javier Hernandez (MEX) [will join in Houston on 27 July], Federico Macheda (ITA), Danny Welbeck (ENG)
MANAGER: Sir Alex Ferguson
MANCHESTER UNITED 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE
July 16 Manchester United vs. Celtic F.C 6:00 pm CT Rogers Centre, Toronto
July 21 Manchester United vs. Philadelphia Union 6:30 pm CT Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
July 25 Manchester United vs. Kansas City Wizards 5:00 pm CT Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
July 28 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Game vs. Manchester United 7:30 pm CT Reliant Stadium, Houston
ABOUT THE MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS
Goalkeepers:
BEN AMOS – 20-year-old goalkeeper has worked his way through the Old Trafford ranks since the age of 11; made his first team debut in September 2008.
TOMASZ KUSZCZAK – The Poland international made a stunning penalty save in his United debut.
EDWIN VAN DER SAR – In 2007/2008, the Dutch international kept an incredible 24 clean sheets in all competitions; is his nation’s most capped player.
Defenders:
WES BROWN - A veteran of 13 seasons with United, the rugged defender has 23 appearances for England’s national team.
RAFAEL DA SILVA – 20-year-old Brazilian right back was a finalist for the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year for the 2008-2009 season.
FABIO DA SILVA – Rafael’s twin brother, “Fabio” plays on the left side of United’s defense.
RITCHIE DE LAET – Belgian international is eyeing more playing time after being named the Manchester United Reserve Player of the Season in May 2010.
CORRY EVANS – Younger brother of defender Jonny Evans, Corry settled and excelled at center back for United’s Reserves, rising through the ranks to train regularly with the senior squad and has been named to a handful of first team squads.
JONNY EVANS – Older brother of defender Corry Evans, Northern Ireland center back has 19 international appearances for his country.
JOHN O’SHEA – Versatile Republic of Ireland international has played every position – including goalkeeper – during his 11 seasons with United.
CHRIS SMALLING – Former Fulham defender joined United earlier this year.
Midfielders:
TOM CLEVERLEY – A bright future beckons for the 20-year old; was nominated for the prestigious Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year award.
DARREN FLETCHER – One of United’s most consistent performers, Fletcher was named captain of the Scottish National Team in August 2009.
DARRON GIBSON – A regular for the Republic of Ireland, Gibson scored five goals in 23 appearances in the 2009/2010 season.
RYAN GIGGS – Nicknamed “The Welsh Wizard,” Giggs has played for Manchester United his entire professional career, holding a host of records, including being British football’s most decorated player. Giggs is the only player in English football history to win 11 top division championship medals. This is the equivalent to an American football player winning 11 Super Bowl rings or a baseball player capturing 11 World Series titles.
NANI – Powerful and speedy Portuguese international put together a string of hugely impressive displays and contributed vital goals to win over fans in the 2009/2010 season.
GABRIEL OBERTAN – French international has progressed through the ranks for his country receiving caps at Under 16, 17, 18 and 19 levels. Is currently involved in the French under 21 squad.
PAUL SCHOLES – The 35-year-old midfielder has spent his entire professional career with the ‘Red Devils,’ and has represented the England national team in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
Forwards:
DIMITAR BERBATOV – The all-time leading goal scorer for Bulgaria’s national team (48 goals in 78 appearances), Berbatrov is known for scoring spectacular goals.
MAME BIRAM DIOUF – Senegalese international joined United in 2009 after three seasons in Norway.
JAVIER HERNANDEZ – Mexican standout scored two goals at the World Cup in South Africa … could become "a major influence" with United, according to the club’s assistant manager Mike Phelan
FEDERICO MACHEDA – 18-year-old Italian forward has 3 goals in 9 League appearances for United … known as “Kiko”.
DANNY WELBECK – Rising young winger/striker has often been compared to Nigerian star Nwankwo Kanu.