An exhibition match between A-League side Sydney FC and Liverpool has been "locked in" for May 24 at ANZ Stadium. The NSW Government on Monday confirmed last week’s reports Jürgen Klopp will "bring Liverpool’s first team squad to Sydney for the first time." It will be a "tight turnaround" for Liverpool, which will play its final domestic fixture at home to Middlesbrough three days earlier (AAP, 4/9).
The U.S., Angola and Lebanon "will stage events to tie in with the Clasico showdown between Real Madrid and Barcelona on April 23." The fixture is the "most watched domestic clash in world football, with a potential global audience of around half a billion viewers." La Liga Corporate Brand Activation Dir Cristina Sanchez said that the game was a "tool to promote the Spanish top flight." Events "around the return" will include a big-screen showing at Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, attended by La Liga U.S. Country Manager Raúl, and another in the Angolan capital, Luanda (ESPN.com, 4/11).
The Jockey Club "flexed its muscle to ensure there would be no repeat of last year's controversial date clash" between the Hong Kong Golf Open and the Hong Kong Int'l Races. This year's golf tournament will take place from Nov. 23-26, it was confirmed on Tuesday, with the city's "biggest horse-racing meeting" on Dec. 10. It is understood that organizers of the Formula E Hong Kong ePrix are "hoping soon to confirm that their event will be held on the weekend in between" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 4/11).
The Asian Football Confederation is "still waiting for feedback from North Korea regarding the neutral ground for the 2019 Asian Cup final qualifying match against Malaysia on June 8." AFC Secretary General Datuk Windsor Paul said that the governing body "would choose the neutral ground for the match if North Korea failed to give any reply by Friday" (NEW STRAITS TIMES, 4/11).
More than 50,000 tickets have been sold for the FIBA Eurobasket 2017 group phase in Helsinki, Finland, with more than four months until tip-off. Finland's game against Slovenia on Sept. 2 is closest to selling out, with 90% of tickets already bought (FIBA).
