FC Tucson announced Wednesday the club will host a spring showcase featuring two MLS championship squads and a number of top USL teams Feb. 8-18 at Kino North Stadium.
The FC Tucson Desert Showcase will include preseason friendly matches with MLS clubs Real Salt Lake, which has Tucson native Justen Glad on its roster, and Chicago Fire FC. Xherdan Shaqiri, who played for Switzerland in the World Cup, is the top player for Chicago.
Top USL teams Sacramento Republic FC, Louisville City FC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, New Mexico United, Detroit City FC and Phoenix Rising FC will play in the showcase.
This year marks the 13th consecutive spring FC Tucson has hosted MLS teams for preseason action in Southern Arizona.
βWe are thrilled to open this era of FC Tucson ownership with the continuation of professional soccer matches in Tucson and to energize the Tucson soccer community before a huge summer with the womenβs World Cup, FC Tucsonβs USL League Two menβs soccer, and FC Tucson womenβs WPSL team,β said FC Tucson founder and new owner Jon Pearlman in a press release. β(Co-owner) Jeff (Arnold) and I would like to thank the Pima County Stadium District, Visit Tucson, our dedicated staff, our partners and all of the clubs joining us this year for helping us make this event a possibility.β