((WATCH>>STREAMS!)) Barcelona vs America Live Free Online Broadcast 21 December 2023
Club América and Barcelona are set to meet Thursday night in a high-profile friendly in Dallas. Barcelona vs Club America live stream: How to watch Club Friendly game online today
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The match will take place at the 90,000-seat Cotton Bowl, which is expected to be packed for a game between two of the most successful and well-supported clubs from Mexico and Spain.
América is just days removed from lifting its record 14th Liga MX title, having defeated Tigres 3-0 in the final second leg on Sunday night.
For Barcelona, it will be tight turnaround with a La Liga game against Almería just the day before. The Blaugrana face a cross-continental flight immediately after the Almería game ends, and will arrive in Texas just about 15 hours before kickoff.
Both teams will likely field rotated sides, but are sure to utilize many of their stars at some point as well. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said that all available players for his side will travel to Dallas.
The two sides last met in 2011, another friendly in Dallas which Barcelona won 2-0.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.
Barcelona vs. Club America (friendly)
When: Thursday, Dec. 21
Where: Cotton Bowl (Dallas)
Time: 9 p.m. ET
The Cules agreed to play this match many weeks ago, but since they practically have no time to rest, Xavi Hernandez is expected to field an alternative team with those who got less playing time lately.
The friendly will certainly be more meaningful for Las Aguilas, since facing a club like Barcelona represents a huge opportunity in sporting, financial, and marketing terms. Besides, America head into this game in high spirits after claiming the Liga MX title by beating Tigres 3-0 (4-1 on aggregate) in the 2023 Apertura final.
Xavi Hernandez's team are battling to keep their league title defence hopes alive in the second half of the campaign after a mixed run of results in recent weeks. The Catalans are also facing a busy January schedule, including Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa action, alongside four league matches.
The primary reason for Barcelona's seemingly odd decision to play a mid-season friendly on another continent is based on finances with the club looking to bolster its improving fiscal picture following years of mismanagement.
As per reports from Spanish outlet Diario AS, Barcelona are expected to pick up an estimated €5m ($5.45m) from the game, with a percentage of that fee being donated to a charitable fund set up to help the recovery effort in Mexico following Hurricane Otis in November.
The trip mirrors Barcelona's flight to Japan in June, where Xavi and his players took on J League side Vissel Kobe less than two days after winning the La Liga title, as part of another money-making move by the club.
Xavi has indicated he will take the strongest possible squad to the USA, but he will be missing Pedri, Gavi, Marcos Alonso and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen through injury. The match will also give some of his younger stars an opportunity to feature with Marc Guiu and Fermin Lopez both set to travel.
Club America head into this match during their own domestic offseason after clinching the Liga MX title earlier this month. The squad includes a majority Mexican core captained by striker Henry Martin with former Barcelona player Jonathan dos Santos in midfield.