Juventus announced as opponent for 2018 MLS All-Star Game
Sebastian Giovinco is likely to meet a host of familiar faces come Aug. 1, as the best of MLS will take on Italian giant Juventus at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game, the league announced Thursday.
Giovinco - now the darling of reigning champion Toronto FC - called hometown club Juventus his own during his youth career before going on to make more than 130 senior appearances for the club, which will head to Atlanta for the annual exhibition match. This is the second Italian team to participate in the MLS All-Star Game, following AS Roma in 2013.
"We welcome Juventus - one of the world's iconic clubs - as our opponent for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target," MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. "Our midseason showcase annually attracts the most prominent clubs in global soccer, and this year our All-Stars will face one of the sport's most historically successful teams.
"And we can't think of a better city to host the game than in Atlanta, which due to the incredible success and popularity of Atlanta United, has rapidly captured the attention of the entire soccer world."
The MLS All-Star team will likely feature Giovinco, along with plenty of other league stars including New York City FC's David Villa and the Chicago Fire's Bastian Schweinsteiger. It could also potentially include a former Juventus star in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has reportedly signed with the LA Galaxy.
Additionally, Columbus Crew SC midfield maestro Federico Higuain might get a chance to square off against his brother, Gonzalo Higuain, who plays for Juventus. The MLS team will be managed by Atlanta head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri will see the match as an opportunity to give his own star players - including Higuain, Paulo Dybala, and potentially Gianluigi Buffon - a chance at gaining competitive preseason minutes, as the Italian side prepares for the 2018-19 Serie A campaign. Still, he anticipates an enjoyable tilt between the two sides.
"It will be a pleasure for us to play in this game and feel the energy of MLS, an ever-growing league attracting more and more passionate fans," Allegri said in a statement. "It will also be a great chance for the many Juventus supporters in North America to see their team and favorite players."