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When Brazil and Argentina play a friendly in June in preparation for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year, the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host one of the largest football fights in the world.
Brazil and Argentina will meet at the MCG for the first time since Lionel Messi’s Argentina overcame their South American rivals 1-0 in front of 95,569 people in 2017.
“Football fans in Melbourne and around Australia will experience the incredible skills of football superpowers, Brazil and Argentina live when the two teams meet off for Superclasico 2022 at the MCG on June 11,” a statement on the MCG’s site said on Wednesday.
In a statement released by the MCG, spectators were treated to the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Paulo Dybala, and Gabriel Jesus across the two South American powerhouses, as the MCG registered its greatest crowd for a football match, surpassing the Liverpool FC and Melbourne Victory friendly back in 2013.
Superclasico began in 2011 as a two-game series between the two countries, but in 2014 it was changed to a one-off encounter at a neutral location, with previous matches drawing record audiences.
International matches performed during a World Cup year are crucial for qualifying teams’ preparation, and Superclasico organizers expect both Brazil (1st in FIFA world rankings) and Argentina (4th in FIFA world rankings) to compete.
“Having two of the world’s most successful football clubs return to the MCG to continue their traditional rivalry underlines our position as one of the world’s great sporting cities and Australia’s event capital,” said Martin Pakula, Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events.
“We are ecstatic to welcome two footballing titans back to the MCG to dazzle Melbourne and Australian football and general sports fans, and in a World Cup year no less,” said Stuart Fox, Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive.
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