BMO Field to host Balotelli, Baggio and Honda next week as international soccer comes to Toronto

Italy and Portugal Legends, Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan and Olympiacos all to take to the pitch next week.

TORONTO, July 17, 2014 /CNW/ - While soccer fans all over the world suffer from withdrawal with the end of this year's World Cup, Toronto soccer fans will have one more week of soccer satisfaction as some of the world's best soccer clubs take the pitch at BMO Field.  Beginning Monday, the home of Toronto FC will host Italian and Portuguese legends teams, English Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur, Serie A's AC Milan and Superleague Greece's Olympiacos in three matches.

On Monday, Italian soccer fans will get the rare opportunity to see Italian national legend and one of soccer's greatest talents, Roberto Baggio take the pitch in the International Legends match between Italy and Portugal. Italian soccer stars Baresi and Maldini and Portugal's legends Pauleta, Dimas, and Gomes will also be on their respective rosters alongside many other national greats.  For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit http://bmofield.com/event/italy-vs-portugal-legends/

BMO Field will then host one of the Premier League's most successful clubs, Tottenham Hotspur in a friendly against Toronto's hometown team, Toronto FC as part of their North American tour Wednesday night.  Toronto FC's leading goal-scorer Jermain Defoe is a former Hotspur and is eager to play against his old club. "I'm really looking forward seeing my old teammates and it will be great for them to experience the incredible atmosphere at BMO Field," said Defoe.  "Football is such a huge sport in Europe and it's exciting to show my old club how passionate Major League Soccer fans are". For more information about the match or to purchase tickets, please visit TorontoFC.ca

To close out the week of international soccer, Serie A's AC Milan will kick off against Superleague Greece's Olympiacos.  As part of the Guinness International Champions Cup, these two clubs will meet Thursday during the tour's only Canadian stop.  Despite only recently returning from World Cup appearances, Italy's Mario Balotelli, De Sciglio and Abate, Japan's Honda and Ghana's Essien will all be in attendance at BMO Field.  For more information or to purchase tickets please visit http://bmofield.com/event/ac-milan-vs-olympiacos-fc/

SOURCE: Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.

Media contacts: Abby Albino, MLSE, [email protected], 416-815-5455