The Seattle Sounders announced on Wednesday that it will host Mexico’s Club Necaxa and Germany’s Eintracht Frankurt in a pair of friendlies in 2017.
The Sounders will welcome Necaxa on Saturday, March 25 at 7 p.m. PT before Frankfurt visits on Saturday, July 8 at 1 p.m. PT. Tickets will go on sale to season ticket members on Wednesday with a general onsale on Friday, February 17 at 9 a.m. PT.
“We are excited to welcome clubs from two of the best topflight leagues in the world, as both opponents help us achieve long-term goals for the organization,” said Sounders Owner Adrian Hanauer. “In an attempt to excel in the CONCACAF Champions League, facing a proven Liga MX cub in Necaxa helps us prepare for the next edition of the tournament. Additionally, by playing a top Bundesliga side for the first time, our club has the opportunity to showcase itself against a strong representative from one of the most prominent soccer countries in the world.”
The international friendlies are included as part of the Sounders FC full 19-match 2017 season ticket package. Additionally, the Frankfurt friendly is part of the Sea of Green half-season ticket package.
Necaxa will be the third Liga MX side the Sounders have hosted in a friendly at CenturyLink Field. The club currently sits in 13th place through six matches in the 2017 Clausura table.
“As we’ve stated previously, winning the CONCACAF Champions League is a priority for our organization,” said Sounders General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “Like our friendly match against Club Tijuana last year, we believe playing against top Mexican opponents in a competitive setting better prepares us for our next edition of CONCACAF’s regional tournament. With that in mind, we look forward to hosting Necaxa in March.”
Frankfurt will become the first Bundesliga team Seattle has ever faced, and it sits in third in Germany’s top flight through 20 matches, one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund in the race for an UEFA Champions League spot. Eintracht features American international defender Timmy Chandler, who has 19 appearances on the back line so far this season.
“In addition to their prominent history, Eintracht Frankfurt has enjoyed a strong campaign in a world-class league,” said Sounders Chief Operating Officer Bart Wiley. “We look forward to facing this well-respected organization, from a league that is known globally for its tremendous fan support. We’re excited to see our two passionate fan bases enjoy this occasion, as two of the best teams from their respective leagues face off.”
Seattle has hosted 10 friendlies in the past eight seasons and is 3-5-2 in those competitions.
