The FAI has confirmed that the Republic of Ireland will play Spain in an international friendly at Yankee Stadium in New York on June 11th.This is the second glamour fixture for the team and fans following on from the meeting with England at Wembley Stadium two weeks before. The games will serve as bookends to a home friendly against Georgia at the Aviva Stadium on June 2nd and the World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands on June 7th.
The two matches are a big draw for fans and players at a time of year which would otherwise struggle to hold the attention and the FAI has done well to secure such high profile games.
Their cause was doubtless helped by participating at last years Euro 2012 Finals in Poland where the enthusiasm of the fans did not go unnoticed.
The game in London will have a natural draw from here and within the massive irish community across Britain. The game in New York will also draw a big crowd, just as it did when the Irish women’s team played two friendlies last year as part of a US Olympic Homecoming tour.
Giovanni Trapattoni spoke yesterday of the value for these games in developing players. There is no doubt though that the importance in terms of fan engagement and revenue has been given equal consideration.
The match will be the second of two football fixtures this summer in Yankee Stadium following Chelsea v Manchester City on May 25.
Supporters travelling from Ireland will be able to apply for tickets for the match against Spain from April 15 at 9am through www.fai.ie/away
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