One of the most popular brands in the world for the sport is coming to Pittsburgh.
Renowned English soccer team Liverpool FC will play against Spanish club Real Betis in an exhibition on July 26 at Acrisure Stadium. The game is called “The Iron City Showdown” and brings together two of Pittsburgh’s pro sports teams, with the Steelers as hosts and the Penguins and Liverpool under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group.
The established 132-year-old Liverpool franchise has achieved 19 domestic league titles, eight FA Cups, nine League Cups, six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, and four European Super Cups. Based in northwest England, Liverpool won the Premier League in 2019-20 and has consistently finished in the top four in what is widely considered the top professional soccer league in the world. Liverpool is currently tied with Arsenal at the top of the league for the current season.
Established in 1907 and currently competing in LaLiga, Real Betis won its third Copa Del Rey in 2022, which is the national pro championship in Spain. The team's roster includes U.S. National Team midfielder Johnny Cardoso.
Pittsburgh is one of three locations in the U.S. where Liverpool will play this summer, along with stops in Columbia, S.C., and Philadelphia.
LFC commercial director Ben Latty stated, “Adding Pittsburgh to our preseason tour schedule is a great way to start our eagerly anticipated return to the USA. We were delighted to quickly sell out our fixtures against Arsenal and Manchester United on this tour and are equally excited to be able to offer our supporters in the States another opportunity to see Liverpool F.C. play. Real Betis will come with a strong squad and it’s going to be a great occasion in another iconic setting, in another fantastic U.S. city.”
The Iron City Showdown is coming!@LFC will face @RealBetis in a Premier League vs. LaLiga matchup on Friday, July 26 at @AcrisureStadium!
MORE: https://t.co/tjaDhfvpMk pic.twitter.com/2pASTdsVQp
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 9, 2024
This is the third exhibition featuring European soccer teams hosted at what was previously known as Heinz Field, following a Manchester City-A.C. Milan match in 2014 and a 2018 game between Benfica and Borussia Dortmund. The Steelers’ home stadium has also hosted exhibitions for the U.S. Woman’s National Team in 2004 and 2015.
Real Betis CEO Ramon Alarcon expressed, “No doubt, this game excites us for a set of different reasons. Playing against a great club like Liverpool F.C. is a chance for us to measure our potential.”
Tickets for the general public go on sale at 9 a.m Thursday via Ticketmaster, with a presale beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
