SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes, Soccer United Marketing (SUM) and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) announced today that the Mexican National Team will face Paraguay on Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. PT at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. This Bay Area stop is part of Mexico’s 2011 U.S. Tour.
An exclusive pre-sale for San Jose Earthquakes season ticket holders and other special groups will begin this Friday, January 14 at 10:00 a.m. PT by calling the Earthquakes at 408-556-7700. For group tickets or suites, please contact the Earthquakes.
Tickets for the general public will go on sale on Friday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. PT by visiting www.Tickets.com, by calling 1-800-225-2277 or visiting the usual tienda locations. A special two-pack that includes a ticket to the Mexico-Paraguay game and a voucher for a ticket to an Earthquakes game can be purchased for as low as $30. To purchase the two-pack, fans should call 408-556-7700.
Scheduled on a FIFA fixture date, this match will mark Mexico’s return to Oakland after almost two years, when they defeated Nicaragua 2-0 at the Coliseum during the group phase of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Mexico and Paraguay last faced off at Copa America 2007, where El Tri secured the quarterfinal win.
For the first time in its history, Paraguay reached the quarterfinals stage of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa this past summer. Led by their captain and goalkeeper Justo Villar (Real Valladolid/Spain) and their head coach Gerardo Martino, Paraguay is preparing for this summer’s Copa America in Argentina, where they will face Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela. Paraguayan national team standouts include defender Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM/Mexico), Paulo da Silva and Cristian Riveros, both of the English club Sunderland.
The Mexican national team, under the direction of new head coach Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre will kick off its 2011 U.S. Tour in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome on February 9 against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“El Tri” has made a number of appearances in the Bay Area over the past five years, playing in both Oakland and San Francisco. El Tri last played in the Bay Area on Feb. 24, 2010 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, routing Bolivia 5-0. Prior to that match, Mexican National Teams made four appearances in Oakland from 2007-09. Mexico faced Sweden in front of 46,550 fans on Jan. 28, 2009 before taking on Nicaragua in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on July 5, 2009. The two previous trips by Mexico to the Coliseum resulted in sellout crowds of 47,416. Mexico defeated Ecuador 4-2 on March 28, 2007 and on March 2, 2008, the Under-23 teams of Mexico and Australia tied 1-1.
Media planning on covering the Mexican national team tour should apply for accreditation at the following link: https://sum.iwebreg.com/apply
The 2011 Mexican National Team U.S. Tour sponsors are adidas, Allstate, AT&T, Bud Light, Cacique, Coca-Cola, Castrol, Degree Men, Makita, NAPA Auto Parts and The Home Depot. Together, they will host Fútbol Fiesta, a huge celebration taking place before every game, including an interactive zone of 120,000 square feet with live music, games, celebrities and promotional memorabilia.
About Soccer United Marketing
Founded in 2002, Soccer United Marketing (SUM) is the preeminent marketing soccer company in North America. SUM has the exclusive commercial rights to everything related to Major League Soccer (MLS) and U.S. Soccer Federation. SUM is also the official and exclusive marketing promoter of the Mexican National Team when on tour in the U.S., plus the marketing and promotion of the CONCACAF Gold Cup™. Since 2008, SUM has a long-term agreement with historic and giant soccer club FC Barcelona, consisting on U.S. tours of the Spanish team. SUM also has the marketing rights in the U.S. to the most popular Mexican team, Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas).
Additionally, SUM created SuperLiga and the Pan-Pacific Championship, two international level soccer tournaments including teams from the MLS, Mexico and Asia. Beginning 2009, SUM established MLS Digital Properties, previously known as SUM Digital Network, the only advertising network of its kind. It covers every single aspect of the sport in the United States, allowing sponsors to reach million of soccer fans through many advertising and sponsorship campaigns. All of these properties are represented by SUM’s motto: One Sport. One Company. For more info, visit: www.SUMworld.com
