CARY, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2023) North Carolina FC and Sunderland A.F.C. jointly announce a friendly match between the clubs at WakeMed Soccer Park on Friday, July 21, 2023, with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. ET.
The Black Cats become the first English Football League team to face North Carolina FC since 2017, when NCFC played Swansea City to a scoreless draw. The previous year, Premier League stalwarts West Ham visited WakeMed Soccer Park and the two clubs battled to a 2-2 draw in front of a record-breaking crowd of 10,125.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our club and for soccer fans across our region. Bringing a club of Sunderland’s caliber and history to Cary is a testament to our talent on the field, stadium and facilities, and commitment to the globalization of our organization. We’re excited to bring this unique experience to our fans and community,” said club president Francie Gottsegen.
Sunderland are currently 8th in the EFL Championship, enjoying a successful first season back in the English second division. The club finished 5th in EFL League One last season and defeated Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe Wanderers in the promotion playoffs. The club have won the English top flight six times and the FA Cup three times in their history.
“We are excited to welcome Sunderland into our community for the upcoming exhibition match in July. North Carolina FC has a strong history of playing against quality international clubs at WakeMed Soccer Park and I’m excited that this year’s players will have an opportunity to challenge ourselves against such a historic, well-known club,” said head coach John Bradford.
Season Ticket Members receive purchase priority for this match. NCFC Season Ticket Members have their seat location reserved until Monday, March 20 and can purchase tickets today through Account Manager, click here. NC Courage Season Ticket Members will receive a separate email with a special offer for tickets to this match. Single match tickets for this match go on sale Tuesday, March 21. Individuals interested in purchasing tickets in advance can secure seats through a discounted ticket bundle, click here to contact us. Ticket bundles are on sale now and start at just $22 per seat. If you have additional ticket questions for this match, then call us at 919-459-8144.
North Carolina FC would also like to thank First Wave Sports and PSC Ltd for their help and assistance again in organizing another international exhibition game for NCFC.
More information regarding broadcasts, live streams, and media coverage of the match will be announced soon. All updates will be announced on www.northcarolinafc.com and on NCFC social media channels (@NorthCarolinaFC).
