Barcelona will play six exhibition matches in the U.S. over the next five years. (Manu Fernandez/Associated Press)FC Barcelona and Major League Soccer committed Thursday to playing six matches in the United States over the next five years.
Barcelona, a two-time European champion and winner of 18 Spanish League titles, agreed to let Soccer United Marketing, the promotional arm of MLS, handle all marketing and publicity for the tours.
No dates or details were disclosed, but the storied Spanish side is seeking to double its American fan base of 10 million with the tours.
"If you want to be a global brand, you have to be in the United States," FC Barcelona vice-chairman Ferran Soriano said. "We want to have a permanent presence here and maybe that permanent presence will mean a team here someday."
Not unlike Chivas USA, established as an MLS expansion entry in 2005 by Jorge Vergara, who owns Chivas de Guadalajara of the Mexican League.
Barcelona, which is estimated to have 50 million fans in Europe, played a number of exhibition matches in the U.S. in 2003 and 2006.
In 2003, it competed with AC Milan, Juventus and Manchester United in the Champions World Series.
In 2006, it played the New York Red Bulls of MLS, as well as Mexico's Chivas de Guardalajara and Club America.
Barcelona will conduct three youth camps in the U.S. this year.
With files from the Associated Press
