Australian, Japan, US teams to vie for Pan-Pacific title
Saturday, 1 December 2007
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Nov 30 (AFP): England star David Beckham will be the star attraction next February when top US, Japanese and Australian football clubs meet here in the debut of a new tournament, the Pan-Pacific Championship.
Officials from the J-League, A-League and Major League Soccer announced the creation of the event Thursday, with Aloha Stadium to host semi-final matches February 20 and a championship-consolation double-header on February 23.
Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy, runner-up in this year's inaugural SuperLiga between US and Mexican clubs, will be joined by MLS champion Houston Dynamo, Japan's Gamba Osaka and next February's Aussie league winner.
The Galaxy will face Gamba Osaka in the semi-final opener with Houston playing the Australian club in the nightcap.
"Partnering with clubs from respected and sophisticated competitions such as the MLS and J-League validates the massive advances that football in Australia has made over the past three years," said Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley.
Officials from the J-League, A-League and Major League Soccer announced the creation of the event Thursday, with Aloha Stadium to host semi-final matches February 20 and a championship-consolation double-header on February 23.
Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy, runner-up in this year's inaugural SuperLiga between US and Mexican clubs, will be joined by MLS champion Houston Dynamo, Japan's Gamba Osaka and next February's Aussie league winner.
The Galaxy will face Gamba Osaka in the semi-final opener with Houston playing the Australian club in the nightcap.
"Partnering with clubs from respected and sophisticated competitions such as the MLS and J-League validates the massive advances that football in Australia has made over the past three years," said Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley.