Italian club AS Roma, led by United States star Michael Bradley, will play a team made up of the best players in Major League Soccer in the league's annual All-Star game on July 31.
Roma is the first Serie A club to play in the MLS All-Star game, which traditionally pits one of the top international clubs in the world against the best players in the United States. MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced Thursday that Livestrong Sporting Park would host the July 31 earlier this year.
The MLS All-Stars are 6-2-1 against international clubs, including Manchester United, Everton FC, Chelsea FC and Club Deportivo Guadalajara.
Roma views the All-Star game as an opportunity to expand its global brand. The club, founded in 1927, became the first Serie A club to be owned by foreigners when a four-man group of Americans purchased a majority interest in August 2011.
"We are pleased to welcome AS Roma as the opponent for the MLS All-Stars in the 2013 All-Star Game in Kansas City," said Garber. "As the winner of multiple Serie A and Coppa Italia titles, Roma is one of Italy's most popular and successful clubs.
"We are also proud to welcome back Roma midfielder Michael Bradley. Michael began his professional career in MLS as a 16-year-old and has become one of the most successful American players of this era."
The game in Kansas City, Kan., follows a successful showing by the metro area in hosting Major League Baseball's All-Star game last summer. Fans packed every event during the weeklong festivities at Kauffman Stadium, just across the state line in Kansas City, Mo.
''You want to really highlight how engaged Kansas City is in soccer, and I think that's going to be a phenomenal opportunity for us,'' Mayor Joe Reardon said. ''Last year's game against Chelsea in Philadelphia was fun to watch on TV. Now we're going to get to watch it right here.''
