Minnesota United today announced it will host one of the English Premier League’s most prestigious clubs – Everton FC – for an international friendly on Wednesday, July 20 at 7:00 pm CT.
Tickets for this special match go on sale to the general public on May 23, but fans can receive early access to this match, as well as the three final home games of the regular season, with the Big-Game Bundle.
The game will be a unique occasion for fans of both teams due to an important link Everton shares with current MNUFC Head Coach Adrian Heath. The Loons manager enjoyed an incredibly successful playing career as a forward for Everton from 1982 – 1988 and was a critical member of the team during one of Everton’s most successful runs in the 1980s.
A club-record signing, he made 308 appearances, scored 94 goals, and was crucial in helping Everton win two league titles in 1985 and in 1987 as well as winning the FA Cup in 1984 and UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring the best of the world’s game to our Minnesota soccer community,” said MNUFC CEO Shari Ballard. “Not only is Everton a storied club, but their meaningful history with Adrian will add an extra dimension of fun to the game. In addition to this game, we have a fantastic lineup of soccer coming to Allianz Field throughout the summer, including another international friendly against SC Paderborn 07 in June and the MLS All-Star game in August. We look forward to sharing all of these experiences with our fans and our community.”
Everton Football Club is one of the most storied clubs in English football. Formed in 1878, the club was one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888, and won its first title, the League Championship, in the 1890-91 season. Everton has competed in the top division for a record 118 seasons, having missed only four top-flight seasons. The Club is the second-longest serving club in top-flight English football, ranking third all-time points. The club’s supporters are known as “Evertonians”, “Toffees” or “Blues”.
“To say I’m excited would be an understatement,” said former Everton forward and current MNUFC Head Coach Adrian Heath. “Everyone knows my feelings towards the club, the best thing that happened in my football life was playing for Everton. I couldn’t be more excited to welcome them to Minnesota. It will be a great occasion at Allianz Field, and I know we will have incredible fan support. They have an unbelievable traveling fanbase and I’ve no doubt they will bring their voice to Saint Paul. It’s an honor to host one of the premier clubs in world football.”
In his first full season at Goodison Park, Heath quickly became a Toffees favorite, finishing as the Club’s top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions. He continued to be a source of consistency, netting double figures in every campaign up until 1987/88, despite a couple of serious injuries during this period, preventing him from playing as many games as he would have liked. Heath’s outstanding career with the club was recognized in 2018, when he became the latest Club legend to be named an Everton Giant (the Club’s Hall of Fame).
Richard Kenyon, Everton’s Director of Communications, Revenue and International Growth, said: “We are committed to building on our presence in the US as a key strand of our international strategy, and are looking forward to engaging with our US supporters – and creating new ones – when we visit Minnesota in July. We understand the dedication of our US fans with many of them watching early morning games, traveling hours cross-country to meet up with fellow Blues to support the team, and many heading over to Goodison Park when they can. We are hugely appreciative of that support and look forward to working with fans to design some exciting activities for Blues based in the US and those traveling over from the UK. This fixture will see us play against strong opposition at an excellent stadium, and, of course, give us the chance to reunite and go up against a side managed by former Blue Adrian Heath – a true Everton legend.”
Everton Manager Frank Lampard said: “As well as using the incredible facilities in preparation for next season, this visit will give us an opportunity to connect with our proud and passionate US fanbase. In my short time at the Club, I have learned how Everton is one of the most-followed English clubs in the USA. Having spent part of my playing career on the East Coast I know how much excitement there is for football in the United States and it is continually on the rise.”
Known by its passionate US fanbase as ‘America’s Team’, Everton is one of the most-followed Premier League clubs in the USA. It now has more than 55 supporters’ clubs across the US – or at least one Everton supporters’ club in every state in the US. The Club also opened its first US office in Miami in April 2021.
Everton has had several former US stars as part of their roster over the years, including Landon Donovan, Brian McBride, Joe Max-Moore and former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard, a legend of the Club from 2007-2016 and Everton’s record Premier League appearance holder . Howard is now the club’s official Everton in the USA ambassador.
Everton have a history of winning, having been crowned champions in the top flight of English football on nine separate occasions (1890-91, 1914-15, 1927-28, 1931-32, 1938-39, 1962-63, 1969-70 , 1984-85, 1986-87) as well as runners-up on seven occasions (1889-90, 1894-95, 1901-02, 1904-05, 1908-09, 1911-12, 1985-86).
Everton have hoisted the FA Cup on five separate occasions, first winning the coveted trophy in the 1905-06 season. They went on to win again in 1932-33, 1965-66, 1983-84 and, most recently, 1994-95. The Toffees were runners-up on eight separate occasions, including their wins in 1984 and 1985, and again as runners-up in 1986.
In addition to the club’s successful play in league play and the FA Cup, Everton has also won the FA Charity Shield on nine occasions (1928, 1932, 1963, 1970, 1984, 1985, 1986 (shared), 1987, 1995).
Tickets for the Minnesota United FC vs. Everton FC friendly will go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 23 at 10:00 am (with presales beginning on May 19) along with single-game tickets for all Minnesota United home games in the second half of the season (July -October). In advance of the general public on-sale, Itasca Society Members and Season Ticket Members will receive special early access to tickets for this friendly beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, May 11, at 10:00 am and Noon, respectively.
Fans can also enjoy special early access to Everton tickets by purchasing the Big Game Bundle, a new ticket package introduced by Minnesota United today, which includes tickets to the Everton friendly on July 20, as well as the club’s final three home games of the season — Sep. 3 vs. FC Dallas, Sep. 13 vs. Los Angeles Football Club, and Oct. 9 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps F.C. In addition to guaranteeing the best seats in the house for these four marquee matchups, the Big-Game Bundle also includes special perks such as exclusive access to presales and priority status on the Season Ticket waiting list for Preserve members. Big-Game Bundle packages are on sale now at mnufc.com/biggame.