Within hours of the finals of the European Championship and Copa America on July 14, attention will turn to pre-season for many of the most famous clubs in Europe.
Manchester United have a friendly match against Norwegian side Rosenborg on July 15, while Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have games two days later. Yet the main event of pre-season is the now customary money-spinning tour where European clubs travel thousands of miles across the world with the objective of growing their fanbase, consolidating ties with existing supporters and unlocking fresh revenue potential.
This summer, the United States is the location of choice for many of Europe’s largest clubs. Premier League clubs Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Wolves, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Bournemouth will all be in the United States, along with League One side Wrexham, who have become a streaming sensation under the ownership of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona will also be in the States, along with AC Milan from Italy. Arsenal and Chelsea’s women’s sides are also crossing over the Atlantic this summer to face NWSL side Gotham.
The motivations are hardly surprising. The U.S. is the centre of the football universe…
