Photo above by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Rumors began circulating in late February that Central Ohio could experience its first taste of European football inside the confines of Ohio Stadium. The last friendly took place in 2016 and featured a meeting between Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid as part of the now defunct International Champions Cup. Supporters of both clubs and perhaps several neutrals packed The Shoe to get a look at some of the best talent from across the pond.

All told, 86,641 fans gathered on the Ohio State campus for a memorable summer night. Fans won’t have to wait much longer to recreate that feeling once more.

Tuesday morning soccer fans and supporters received official word that two of the world’s top clubs, Manchester City and Chelsea of the English Premier League will grace The Horseshoe as they begin preparations for play in the upcoming season. The match takes place on Saturday, August 3rd and will be part of the FC Series, a collection of friendly matches featuring top global soccer clubs.

It’s no secret that Ohio Stadium is capable of holding big events and that was evident to Molly Penderton who is the Senior Vice President at Unifed Events, one of the companies responsible for this undertaking. “Ohio Stadium is a special location for creating a unique event for these world-class teams,” she said. “Playing in Columbus with teams like Chelsea FC and Manchester City will showcase the passion of Ohio and American soccer fans.” 

Chelsea and Manchester City are the only clubs to win multiple Premier League titles in the last decade. The meeting in Columbus will be the 178th all-time between the two English clubs. Chelsea leads the series 71-64-42. The teams most recently played to a 1-1 draw on February 17 at Etihad Stadium.  

“We are delighted to announce this fixture as part of our schedule and face a fellow Premier League side in Manchester City. Ohio Stadium is renowned for its history, and we know it is going to be an incredible occasion in front of our devoted US fanbase this summer,” commented Chelsea Chief Executive Officer, Chris Jurasek.

It’s going to be a busy soccer of soccer in Central Ohio. Between the MLS All-Star Game, the Crew’s upcoming friendly against Aston Villa, and the exhibition between Chelsea and Manchester City, fans from near and far will be making their way to the capital city, potentially for the first time. Greater Columbus Sports Commission President and Chief Executive Officer Linda Shetina Logan welcomes the opportunity to show what Columbus is all about.

“There’s no doubt Manchester City and Chelsea are two of the biggest clubs in the world. To have them face each other in an iconic venue like Ohio Stadium will be a spectacle for fans both here and around the globe. We’re thankful to the teams, Ohio State and our community partners for helping make it possible. It’s shaping up to be the summer of soccer in Columbus between this match, the MLS All-Star Game and the Crew. We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of fans from all over, and hope to showcase our vibrant city,” Logan said.

Tickets for the event go on sale through Ticketmaster on Wednesday, March 27th at 10 AM local time.