FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi Expected To Play In Miami Match

MIAMI, FL — FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi is expected to play when his team takes on SSC Napoli at Hard Rock Stadium on Aug. 7.

The club confirmed Friday that the entire first team, including Messi, will travel to the United States for the inaugural LaLiga-Serie A Cup against Napoli.

"Messi will join Griezmann, Suarez, Coutinho, De Jong and the rest of the star-studded cast for a two-game series against Napoli Aug. 7th at Hard Rock Stadium and Aug. 10 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan," event organizers explained.

FC Barcelona will be traveling to South Florida after playing the Gamper Trophy in Barcelona, where they will be unveiling the 2019 first team to tens of thousands of fans at Camp Nou Stadium.

Both clubs have confirmed that they will debut their first teams internationally in the LaLiga-Serie A Cup.

Barcelona and SSC Napoli are two of the most successful franchises in their respective leagues, according to event organizers.

A 26-time LaLiga and five-time UEFA Champions League champions, FC Barcelona the league record for the most Copa del Rey (30) and Supercopa de Espana (13) titles, as well as European records for the most UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (4) and UEFA Super Cup (5) wins.

SSC Napoli is recognized internationally as one of the most successful Italian clubs, having won two league titles, five Coppa Italias, two Supercoppa Italiana titles and one UEFA Cup. The club placed second overall in the league this year. This will be SSC Napoli’s first trip to the United States in 30 years.

Hard Rock Stadium holds the record for the largest crowd for a soccer match in Florida in 2015 and held the first El Clasico in the US in 2017.

Michigan Stadium holds the record for the largest US crowd in soccer history when 109,318 fans watched Manchester United take on Real Madrid in 2014.

Tickets to the Miami and Michigan matches were still available as of Friday.