Sporting KC to host Manchester City in July

Sporting Kansas City will play host to Manchester City of the English Premier League in an exhibition game July 23 at Sporting Park, the club announced Tuesday.

Manchester City won the Premier League in 2012 and finished as runner-up in 2013.

It is in position for yet another top-five finish this year in the top professional soccer league in the world. Ticket information for the match will be released later.

“It is a pleasure to host a world-class club like Manchester City,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said in a news release. “It will be a great event not only for our fans, but our players as well to measure ourselves against one of the best teams in all of soccer.”

Manchester City, founded in 1880, features 14 players that helped their respective countries qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup this summer.

Its trip to Kansas City will be part of a Summer in the Soccer Capital series, which begins in June with watch parties for the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup matches.

“The whole team is looking forward to not only returning to the States this summer but also to playing in Kansas City for the first time,” Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero said in a news release. “Having won the MLS title, Sporting Kansas City’s reputation for being a formidable opponent is richly deserved.”

This story was originally published March 18, 2014 at 10:43 AM with the headline "Sporting KC to host Manchester City in July."