MLS, CAA present 2011 World Football Challenge

NEW YORK — MLS and CAA announced Friday that they are teaming to bring back the World Football Challenge, featuring some of the biggest and best-known soccer clubs from around the world.

And this time there'll be a local flavor, as MLS clubs will take part.

“We are pleased to have MLS clubs compete in this summer’s World Football Challenge, and our teams embrace the challenge of competing against top international opponents,” said Will Wilson, MLS executive vice president. “We have worked closely with CAA Sports in the past and are proud to partner with them to produce this innovative event for soccer fans throughout the region.”

The tournament will run from July 14 through August 6. The competing teams, schedule, format, event sponsors and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. Televisa, a founding partner of the inaugural World Football Challenge, will remain involved in 2011.

“By all measures, the inaugural World Football Challenge was a big success: introducing some of the top international clubs and players to existing and new American fans of soccer, multiple sold-out matches, blue-chip sponsors and a world-class broadcast partner in ESPN,” said Michael Levine, co-head of CAA Sports. 

“We are thrilled to team up with our friends at Major League Soccer, who have done an incredible job elevating awareness and building enthusiasm for soccer in the US, to amplify the fan experience and bring some of the brightest stars and biggest teams together in the World Football Challenge.”

The inaugural version of the tournament took place in 2009 and featured Serie A clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan, English Premier League powerhouse Chelsea FC and Mexican giants Club América. The teams played a round-robin format in six cities at stadiums including the Rose Bowl, the Georgia Dome, MT&T Bank Stadium, Gillette Stadium, Stanford Stadium and Cowboys Stadium.

CAA Sports is a division of Creative Artists Agency, the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency.

Ticket information is available at WorldFootballChallenge.com.

2011 Herbalife World Football Challenge schedule