World Football Challenge Continues To Expand, Club America, Chivas Latest To Be Added

Mexican giants Club America and Chivas de Guadalajara are the latest teams to join this summer’s World Football Challenge. Chivas will play Spanish super-power Barcelona on Aug. 3 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. America will play Barcelona on Aug. 6 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

America and Chivas are arguably the two biggest clubs in Mexico and among the most decorated. Chivas has won 11 first-division titles -- more than any other team -- in their 105-year history. America has won 10 titles in their 95-year history, the second most in Mexico. Both teams are currently fighting for spots in the Mexican Primera playoffs.

In addition to announcing that Manchester United would be one of the eight teams participating in the revived World Football Challenge, MLS Commissioner Don Garber finally made official what has long been expected: SuperLiga is dead. With MLS teams now participating in the World Football Challenge, as well as CONCACAF Champions League, the MLS-Mexican Primera tournament was deemed unnecessary.

It’s doubtful many tears are being shed over the demise of SuperLiga. The tournament never seemed to catch on with MLS fans, despite their teams making the finals all four years, three of which were decided in penalties. After starting off reasonably popular in 2007, attendance dipped each year. Last year’s championship game, pitting the New England Revolution against Monarcas Morelia, was played in front of fewer than 10,500 people.