Aston Villa to face 3 MLS teams in friendlies

English Premier League side Aston Villa will play friendlies against Major League Soccer club Philadelphia, Chicago and Portland in preparation for the 2012-13 season.

Aston Villa has won 19 domestic championships since it was founded in 1874, including seven first-division championships, seven FA Cup titles and three European trophies.

The team will visit the Philadelphia Union on July 18, then head to Chicago to play the Fire on July 21 and conclude the tour on July 24 against the Portland Timbers.

Villa played last summer in the Barclay Asia Trophy in Hong Kong.

Villa has played in the United State three times previously, most recently in 2007 when they played in Columbus, Ohio. That trip included a match in Toronto.