The Europeans are coming!!

Chelsea FC, Inter Milan and AC Milan are heading for North America this summer as part of the World Football Challenge. Club America is the other team involved. Nothing in Canada just yet, but we know that the Alberta Soccer Association was hoping to bring Inter Milan to their city. Chelsea will play Seattle Sounders FC on July 18th, so perhaps some of the other clubs will be searching for friendlies against MLS or USL teams while they are here.

Montreal had been rumoured to be trying to find a major team to play a friendly at the Big 'O'. The Whitecaps, already making one big news story this year may also be looking for a friendly this summer.

The schedule is below:

-Sunday, July 19th- Club America vs. Inter Milan (Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, California)

-Tuesday, July 21st- Chelsea FC vs. Inter Milan (Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California)

-Wednesday, July 22nd- AC Milan vs. Club America (Georgia Dome, Atlanta)

-Friday, July 24th- AC Milan vs. Chelsea (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore)

-Sunday, July 26th- AC Milan vs. Inter Milan (Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.)

-Sunday, July 26th- Chelsea FC vs. Club America (Cowboy Stadium, Arlington, Texas)

Could the Italians be coming?

We know that Chelsea will be playing Seattle Sounders FC on July 18th at Qwest Field... errr, Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, but you might find interesting is that the Italians may be invading a pitch near you too. Rumours persist that Chelsea, along with Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America are all set to have a mini-tournament/tour through the summer in North America.

Inter Milan have been linked to a trip to Edmonton in August for the Alberta Soccer Association's 100th anniversary.

Could a trip for one of these teams be in a city near you? When Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show talked with AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf in January, he said he was looking forward to seeing Vancouver one day as he has heard it's beautiful. Could that day be sooner rather than later?

We'll keep you posted.

-TG