Wednesday promises to be a historic day in Detroit.
Some of the world’s best soccer players have left the friendly confines of Italy and France to play the first-ever soccer game inside Comerica Park.
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Today AS Roma and Paris Saint-Germain F.C. will face off in the 2017 International Champions Cup. The two teams draw a worldwide television audience, and are expected to bring thousands of people to Wednesday night’s match.
Tickets are still available online — early estimates indicate as many as 30,000 people will attend the game.
The AS Roma team has spent the better part of three days practicing on the Eastern Michigan University campus. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. has a practice facility in Miami and flew into the Detroit area late Tuesday night.
“To be able to bring a soccer team here, and be a part of it and see the energy here,” said Alex Zecca, Director of Football development. “Obviously, you know how big soccer is in this country. It’s exciting. We’re glad to be here.”
Zecca who works with the youth team tied to AS Roma said his players have a desire to impress their new coach — this game allows them to showcase a number of their talents in practices that took place in Ypsilanti. However, the team’s match-up on Wednesday is what is on everyone’s mind right now.
“It’s exciting to match up against them,” said Zecca, referencing Paris Saint-Germain F.C. “I know our guys are really excited about it.”
Earlier this year Chris Ilitch, President & CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., praised the work done behind-the-scenes to bring the teams to Detroit for the first international soccer match of it’s kind.
“Having Paris and Roma in Detroit puts our community on a worldwide television audience,” said Ilitch. “Having Paris and Roma in Detroit puts our community on a worldwide stage and provides just a taste of the incredible variety of world-class sports and entertainment in The District Detroit.”
