It may seem a bit ambitious for a team that has yet to play a single MLS game to arrange a mid-season matchup with a world power, but that's indeed what will happen on July 18, as league newcomer Seattle Sounders host EPL giant Chelsea at Qwest Field in a game to be televised live on ESPN2.

"There have been a lot of exhibitions here [in Seattle]," said Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer. "But to have arguably one of the five biggest clubs in the world and one of the best teams in the world playing against an expansion MLS team will be interesting."

Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon said the club is "delighted" to be making a preseason return to the Emerald City, where they played a friendly in 2004, and promised that they'd be bringing a "full-strength squad," giving fans hopes of seeing the likes of John Terry, Michael Ballack, Deco and Didier Drogba among others.

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