Article
19 July 2012
Alberto Navarro / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell
This year's preseason will take Real Madrid to the United States of America for the 14th time in their history.
President Luis de Urquijo was the first to take Real Madrid to the US back in 1927 as part of a tour of the Americas that also covered Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Cuba and Mexico. The Whites were joined by players from other teams, such as Osasuna, Athletic Bilbao, Tolosa, Athletic Madrid and Murcia.
The team didn't return until 30 years later, in 1959, when Di Stefano, Puskas and Gento were on the squad. Real arrived in the States as the kings of Europe and played at the Brooklyn Dodgers' field.
Trips to the US followed in 1961, 1965 and 1967. The team would not return until 1989, when the squad featured the now legendary Quinta del Buitre. The Whites spent 20 days in Mexico and the US, playing four games in Los Angeles.
The team's first visit in the 21st Century took place in 2002 during the club's centenary. The likes of Roberto Carlos, Figo, Zidane, Raul and Casillas travelled to New York to face Roma in a match that ended 0-0.
Another trip took place in 2005 as part of a tour that also took them to Mexico, China, Japan and Thailand; and they returned yet again in 2006.
In 2009, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka as squad newcomers, the Madridistas travelled to the USA once more, returning with coach Jose Mourinho at the helm of the team in 2010 and using UCLA facilities as their headquarters to prepare for several friendlies. The team returned to UCLA last year and played friendlies in Los Angeles, San Diego and Philadelphia.
This year, the Whites are set to play encounters again in Los Angeles and Philadelphia, as well as in Las Vegas and New York against LA Galaxy, Santos Laguna, AC Milan and Celtic FC.
| REAL MADRID GAMES IN THE USA | |||
| YEAR | CITY | OPPONENT | SCORE |
| 1927 | New York | Galicia S.C. | 1-1 |
| 1959 | Brooklyn, Nueva York | Graker | 2-6 |
| Austro-Hungaria team | 0-8 | ||
| 1961 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles United | 0-9 |
| 1965 | New York | Independiente de Avellaneda | 1-1 |
| 1967 | Houston | West Ham United | 2-3 |
| 1968 | New York | New York General | 1-4 |
| 1990 | Los Angeles | West Bromwich Albion | 1-6 |
| FK Cologne | 0-1 | ||
| Concacaf team | 0-2 | ||
| Mexico | 3-1 | ||
| 2002 | New York | Roma | 0-0 |
| 2005 | Chicago | Chivas Guadalajara | 1-3 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 0-2 | ||
| 2006 | Seattle | D.C. United | 1-1 |
| Salt Lake City | Real Salt Lake City | 0-2 | |
| 2009 | Washington | D.C. United | 0-3 |
| 2010 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Galaxy | 2-3 |
| San Francisco | America Mexico | 2-3 | |
2011 |
Los Angeles | Los Angeles Galaxy | 1-4 |
| San Diego | Chivas Guadalajara | 0-3 | |
| Philadelphia | Philadephia Union | 1-2 | |