With Manchester City partnering with the Yankees to buy an MLS club, they’ll see a lot of more New York in specific, and American soccer in general. And team ambassador Mike Summerbee said he has seen the game grow stateside by leaps and bounds, to the point the U.S. will win a World Cup within a generation.
“You’ve only got to look at your children: They’re all playing soccer. They are, and there’s a generation coming forward and they’re the ones that are going to put the name of soccer right on the map,’’ said Summerbee, at the Stadium to announce Manchester City’s July 30 game against English Premier League rival Liverpool.
“I tell you, I won’t be around, but in four World Cups — which is 16 years — America will win the World Cup, because there are so many different qualities of people, the children, the Hispanic children. They have a big opportunity, America. Once they put their mind to do something, they do it very well and they do it in a successful way.’’
That City-Liverpool matchup is just one of two Guinness International Champions Cup games in the area this summer. Citi Field will host a game that caters to Queens’ local ethnic communities, as Serie A powerhouse AC Milan faces Greek side Olympiakos on July 24.
That quartet will all play three games in Group B, with the winner facing the victor of Group A (Inter Milan, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Roma) facing the Group B victor on Aug. 4 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.
Games will also be played in Arlington, Texas, Glendale, Ariz., Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and another city from July 24-Aug. 2.