Reigning European club champions FC Barcelona have unveiled the 27-man roster that will travel to the USA seeking to add the Herbalife World Football Challenge to their recent trophy haul ahead of the new European season.
The defending UEFA Champions League and La Liga champions will rely on many of the familiar faces including Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and David Villa in their three WFC matches to be played on US soil: July 30 vs. Manchester United (7 p.m. ET at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.), August 3 vs. CD Guadalajara (8 p.m. ET at Sun Life Stadium in Miami) and August 6 vs. Club América (4 p.m. ET at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas).
Manager Josep "Pep" Guardiola will travel a total of eight players from World Cup champions Spain. Dutch forward Ibrahim Afellay and Mexican midfielder Jonathan dos Santos are among the others on the roster.
The team arrives into Washington, D.C., on Thursday, July 28 and they will hold their first press conference and training session on the same day. They will also visit high-profile philanthropist Bill Gates and his foundation as well as inaugurate their new supporters group in the city.
FC BARCELONA ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jordi Masip, José Manuel Pinto, Víctor Valdés
DEFENDERS (8): Éric Abidal, Iván Balliu, Andreu Fontàs, Maxwell, Marc Muniesta, Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Oriol Rosell
MIDFIELDERS (8): Sergio Busquets, Carlos Carmona, Jonathan dos Santos, Andrés Iniesta, Seydou Keita, Martí Riverola, Thiago Alcântara, Xavi
FORWARDS (8): Ibrahim Afellay, Isaac Cuenca, Pedro, Jonathan Soriano, Jeffren Suárez, David Villa
