Detroit City FC to host Liga MX side for international friendly

International friendlies are returning to Keyworth Stadium.

Detroit City FC on Wednesday announced the club will host Liga MX Club Universidad Nacional (known informally as Pumas) at home on June 22 in the first international friendly for DCFC since it hosted Liga MX's Atlas in 2019.

"We're excited to bring back international friendlies to Keyworth, especially with an opponent of this caliber," DCFC CEO Sean Mann said in a statement. "While all fun, these matches serve as a reminder of what makes soccer so special as the world's best sport: bringing together near and far while serving as a chance to showcase the city of Detroit and our club to the world."

This will be DCFC's first international friendly since the COVID-19 pandemic, which threw soccer schedules around the globe out of whack and caused teams to tighten up the purse strings in the immediate aftermath.

Single-match tickets for the friendly go on sale April 25.

The match will be the ninth international friendly hosted by DCFC and its fourth against a side from Liga MX. DCFC defeated Atlas, 2-1, in 2019 but also lost to FC Juárez in that same season, 3-1. DCFC lost to Club Necaxa, 2-1, in 2018.

"We are proud to welcome Pumas to Keyworth Stadium," DCFC sporting director Trevor James said in a statement. "We know how deep their support runs in the United States and across the world. This marquee matchup shows our commitment to providing metro Detroit with world-class friendlies against globally recognizable opponents."

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi