Minnesota United will play host to Premier League team Everton this summer, with an international friendly game scheduled for July 20.
The game was announced Tuesday, with tickets going on sale to the public on May 23.
It will be a tie with emotional connections for Loons head coach Adrian Heath, who played for Everton during their heyday in the 1980s, when the team battled with city rivals Liverpool for supremacy.
Heath won two league titles with Everton, as well as an FA Cup and a European Cup Winners Cup.
Everton is currently the team with the second longest run of consecutive years in the top division of English football, having been in Division 1 and its successor the Premier League since 1954 – only Arsenal have been there longer.
But Everton’s presence in the Premier League is under threat currently, with the team hovering perilously above the relegation zone with a few games left.
Fortunately, a couple of wins in recent weeks have put Everton in a stronger position to avoid the drop, so the team is highly likely to arrive in Minnesota still in the Premier League.
The team is managed by Frank Lampard, the former Chelsea and England midfielder, and count England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford among its current players.
“To say I’m excited would be an understatement,” said Heath in a statement. “Everyone knows my feelings towards the club, the best thing that happened in my football life was playing for Everton. I couldn’t be more excited to welcome them to Minnesota. It will be a great occasion at Allianz Field, and I know we will have incredible fan support.”
Allianz Field will also host the MLS All-Star Game on Aug. 10.
