Washington, D.C. - D.C. United announced today the 2011 World Football Challenge match featuring FC Barcelona and Manchester United on July 30 will serve as Special Game C for all paid 2011 D.C. United Season Ticket Holders. Fans purchasing D.C. United season tickets to will receive one priority seat for each season ticket in the account. The club will also offer a priority pre-sale opportunity to all D.C. United plan holders for seats to the highly anticipated match. FC Barcelona will face Manchester United at FedExField with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
“We’re very pleased to include this marquee match-up in our full season ticket package,” said United President & CEO Kevin Payne. “Our fans will now not only enjoy a great slate of D.C. United games, including MLS regular season games and matches against Ajax and Everton, but will also be able to see two of the biggest clubs in the world against one another.”
Season ticket plans remain available for as low as $342 per seat. Included in the package are the Barcelona-Manchester United friendly, upcoming must-see matches for D.C. United against the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, summer friendlies pitting the Black-and-Red against Ajax and Everton, and all of the amenities provided the club’s most loyal group of fans as a part of the 2011 season ticket holder appreciation package. Season ticket package information may be found at dcunited.com/tickets. Additional priority seats and more information is available to season ticket holders and all other D.C. United plan holders by calling D.C. United customer service at 202-587-5465 or 202-587-5467. D.C. United will also be selling group tickets to the July 30 match.
Those holding complimentary D.C. United season tickets will have the opportunity to purchase priority seating to the FC Barcelona-Manchester United match, but the Special Game C ticket will only be available for transfer to another MLS regular season match.
FC BARCELONA
Boasting an illustrious history of title-winning sides, FC Barcelona is arguably the best club in the current world of soccer and sits atop the La Liga table. Among its accomplishments of the past five seasons alone, FC Barcelona won La Liga in 2008-09 and 2009-10, completing a total of 20 league championships. Barca captured the UEFA Champions League crown for a third time in 2008-09, earned a 25th Spanish Copa del Rey title during the 2008-09 season, won the Spanish Supercopa in 2009-10 and 2010-11, bringing their trophy haul in the competition to a total of nine historic championships, took the European Super Cup (2009-10) for the third time in history and won and their first FIFA Club World Cup in 2009.
Barcelona boasts a star-studded roster that includes FIFA World Cup champions with Spain, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Victor Valdes, to name just a few.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
Manchester United is in first place in the Barclays Premier League, has secured a semifinal place in the FA Cup and recently advanced to the quarterfinal round of the UEFA Champions League. Founded in 1878, Manchester United won their third consecutive Barclays Premier League Championship in 2009, their 18th overall league title. Manchester United was the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968 and has since captured the UEFA Champions League two additional times. The Red Devils were also crowned FIFA Club World Cup Champions in 2008.
Managed by Sir Alex Ferguson since 1986, Manchester United boasts a lineup full of international stars such as Premier League scoring leader Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria), Wayne Rooney (England), Javier Hernández (Mexico), Nani (Portugal), Patrice Evra (France), Nemanja Vidić (Serbia), Rio Ferdinand (England) and legendary midfielders Ryan Giggs (Wales) and Paul Scholes (England).
