Summer season of international friendlies kicks off

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jun 26, 2013

[DATEBOOK] Another busy summer of international action kicks this weekend with international matches at two MLS stadiums: Morelia-Cruzeiro at the Chicago Fire's Toyota Park and Cruz Azul-Club America at FC Dallas Stadium.

Six Mexican clubs will be in action July 6 in California, and at least 23 foreign clubs -- including nine from Mexico, five from England and four from Italy -- will be touring over the next six weeks.

Cruzeiro and Fluminense took advantage of the break in the Brazilian championship due to the Confederations Cup to play in Florida last weekend. Cruzeiro beat the NASL Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, 4-0, before 5,724 fans at Lockhart Stadium, while Flu downed Orlando City, 4-2, in front of 11,127 fans at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

International Friendlies:
July 29 -- Morelia (Mexico) vs. Cruzeiro (Brazil) in Bridgeview, Ill.
June 30 -- Cruz Azul (Mexico) vs. Club America (Mexico) in Frisco, Texas
July 3 -- Club America (Mexico) vs. Guadalajara (Mexico) in Las Vegas, Nev.
July 6 -- Tijuana (Mexico) vs. Club America (Mexico) in San Diego
July 6 -- Cruz Azul (Mexico) vs. Morelia (Mexico) in San Jose, Calif.
July 6 -- Guadalajara (Mexico) vs. UNAM (Mexico) in San Jose, Calif.
July 9 -- Ventura County Fusion vs. Puebla (Mexico)
July 10 -- Chicago Fire vs. Club America (Mexico)
July 12 -- D.C. United vs. Guadalajara (Mexico)
July 13 -- Columbus Crew vs. Wigan (England)
July 13 -- Morelia (Mexico) vs. Luis Angel Firpo (El Salvador)
July 16 -- New York Red Bulls vs. Lyon (France)
July 18 -- Norwich City (England) vs. Dorados (Mexico) in Sacramento, Calif.
July 19 -- Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Wigan (England)
July 20 -- San Jose Earthquakes vs. Norwich City (England)
July 24 -- Portland Timbers vs. Norwich City (England)
July 24 -- Houston Dynamo vs. Stoke City (England)
July 27 -- FC Dallas vs. Stoke City (England)
July 30 -- Philadelphia Union vs. Stoke City (England)
July 31 -- MLS All-Stars vs. Roma (Italy) in Kansas City, Kan.
July 31 -- Everton (England) vs. Juventus (Italy) in San Francisco.
Aug. 1 -- LA Galaxy vs. Real Madrid (Spain) in Glendale, Ariz.
Aug. 1 -- Chelsea (England) vs. Inter Milan (Italy) in Indianapolis., Ind.
Aug. 3 -- Guinness International Champions Cup, in Los Angeles.
Aug. 4 -- Guinness International Champions Cup, East Rutherford, N.J.
Aug. 6 -- Guinness International Champions Cup, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Aug. 7 -- Guinness International Champions Cup, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Aug. 7 -- Toronto FC vs. Roma (Italy)