Spain, Manchester United to visit Foxboro

March 18, 2011

Easily the largest bits of soccer news to come down the Mass. Pike in a long time, Frank Dell'Apa of the Boston Globe is reporting on two mammoth pieces of soccer news: the US national team will take on World Cup winner Spain in a June friendly at Gillette, followed by a Revolution-Manchester United friendly in July.

No date is yet set for the US-Spain tilt, which will be a tune-up for the Nats before they head into Gold Cup action on June 7 against Canada. The US famously beat Spain 2-0 at the 2009 Confederations Cup, snapping Spain's 15-game win streak.

As for Revs-United, the game will be part of Manchester United's preseason summer tour. United will take on the Revs in Foxboro on July 14 before heading to Seattle on July 20, Chicago on July 23, the MLS All-Stars on June 27, and Barcelona in Washington, D.C. on July 30.

For New England soccer fans bummed over the final performance of the Revolution in the 2011 preseason, the lack of a big-time designated player signed during the offseason, and the recent admission by Revs COO Brian Bilello that a soccer stadium is three to four years away at best, this news couldn't have come at a better time.

In a summer where there is not yet much hope for a successful on-field Revolution product, at least we'll get to see the biggest US international match in Foxboro since US-Netherlands in 2002 and the biggest Revolution international friendly ever.

What kind of lineups will Spain and Manchester United field? Who cares! The quality of the football prowess on the field (which, by the way, will be a grass surface on top of the turf) for both of those games make the events must-see footie. The Revs front office, Sunil Gulati, the Kraft family – they all take a regular beating from soccer fans in the area. Here's one day, at least, where we can all stand up and say “well done.”