FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will play an exhibition match against each other in the United States during the summer preparation phase. This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams outside of Spain. The date of the event is not yet known.

The first El Clásico on American soil was played in 2017 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which can hold more than 65,000 spectators. At that time Barça beat “Los Blancos” 3:2, and the match at the stadium was watched by a full house and millions in front of their TV sets. Encouraged by the success, the clubs had already planned to return to the United States, but these intentions were derailed by the pandemic.

© Glenn Guinita

Now that the situation allows to travel freely again, the two La Liga giants intend to play a match in the world’s gambling capital. The arena for the spectacle is to be the brand-new Allegiant Stadium, where the Las Vegas Raiders play their home games in the NFL. The official date of the clash has not yet been revealed. It is speculated that the players of both teams will appear in the arena, which can accommodate 65,000 fans, between 19 and 30 July.

In addition to “The Classic” with Real, Barcelona are scheduled to play three more matches in the United States. On July 16 against Inter Miami at DRV PNK Stadium and on July 30 against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. Rumour has it that the Blaugrana's fourth opponent would be Juventus and the meeting would take place in Los Angeles, but no details have been given yet. Real has not yet made its other upcoming exhibition games schedule public.

© Las Vegas Raiders

The first El Clásico outside of Spain took place in 1982 in... Venezuela. “Galacticos” won 1-0 and the match itself was watched by just 700 people in the stands in Barquisimeto. The second was the previously mentioned meeting in Miami, and the third was this year's Spanish Super Cup semi-final played at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. Real won that match 3:2 after extra time. Time will tell if Robert Lewandowski will be on the pitch in Las Vegas in Barça's colours.