The Chattanooga Football Club announced Monday that it would face the Chivas U23 of Liga MX, the top level of the Mexican soccer league system.
The friendly match will take place on May 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Finley Stadium, and this will be the second consecutive season that the Chattanooga club has faced a team from Liga MX.
Last season Chattanooga FC battled to a 1-1 draw against the Tigres UANL club between stages of the National Premier Soccer League playoffs. Because of the timing, CFC didn't play its starters yet led for more than 50 minutes of match time before a goal in the final 30 seconds produced the draw.
This season, the match was inserted into a late-May slot when attendance typically isn't good for CFC. Depending on the club's U.S. Open Cup draw - that will be learned Wednesday - the match against Chivas could be the second home match of the season.
"We are looking forward to playing Chattanooga FC in May," CD Guadalajara director of international relations Juan Covarrubias Corona said in the CFC news release. "This is a great opportunity to measure our strength against a great, strongly built institution, to show some chivalry and sportsmanship, to learn from one another, provide a great soccer match and an amazing atmosphere for the fans that will have the honor to attend."
After the Chivas match, CFC plays five of its final eight matches at home, not including additional dates from the U.S. Open Cup and the National Premier Soccer League playoffs, which have included matches in Chattanooga the past three seasons.
The top Chivas club has won 11 first-division titles, seven Champion of Champions titles and three Copa Mexicos.
"It's really exciting to have a club as historically successful as Chivas come here to play us. They are one of the founding members of Liga MX, and the players who will be playing against us will be big, big stars someday," CFC general manager Sean McDaniel said in the release.
"Our guys will be ready to play, and it will be a treat for them to go up against one of Mexico's greatest teams."
Tickets will be $10 in advance and $15 the day of the match. Season pass holders will get in free.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.