SOUTH BEND, IN (March 18, 2024) – The University of Notre Dame will welcome elite international club soccer competition when England’s Chelsea FC and Scotland’s Celtic FC face off on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Notre Dame Stadium.
Tickets for the match will go on sale via Ticketmaster on Wednesday, March 27 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Fans can sign up for an exclusive 24-hour presale at www.FCSeries.com.
“South Bend is a special location for creating a unique event for these world class teams,” said Molly Pendleton, Senior Vice President, Unified Events. “Playing at Notre Dame Stadium with teams like Chelsea FC and Celtic FC will showcase the passion of American soccer fans.”
July 27 will be the second ever meeting between Chelsea and Celtic in America. The Blues won the only previous encounter, 4-2, in Seattle in 2004.
Chelsea, the two-time Champions League and six-time English Premier League champions, will enter the preseason in their second year under manager Mauricio Pochettino. The Blues are the first club to win all four major UEFA club competitions twice (Champions League, Super Cup, Europa League and Cup Winners’ Cup).
“The opportunity to play in front of our fans at the University of Notre Dame is one we are really excited by. This fixture against Celtic provides another fantastic contest during the club’s pre-season tour and will be valuable preparation for our 2024-25 Premier League campaign,” said Chelsea Chief Executive Officer, Chris Jurasek.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club with proud Irish links. Today, the club is one of the most famous sporting institutions in the world with a fabled history of sporting achievement. Celtic was the first British Club to win the European Cup (current Champions League) in 1967, the club has achieved a world record eight domestic Trebles, been named Scottish Champions 53 times and achieved cup victories in Scotland on 62 occasions.
Founded in 1888 for charitable purposes, its principal founder was an Irish Catholic Priest named Brother Walfrid. The first aim of the club was to raise funds to provide food for the poor children of the East End of Glasgow, an area of the City with a large Irish community. From humble beginnings, Celtic has developed into one of the world’s great names in world sport, but maintaining its commitment to a strong social dimension, through one of the most successful charitable operations in raising funds and delivering meaningful projects to support people in need.
Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers commented, “Everyone at Celtic is delighted to be visiting the United States again, particularly for such an exciting pre-season program and we are really looking forward to meeting Chelsea at Notre Dame.”
“I know Mauricio well and I look forward to seeing him and his team again in July for what I am sure will be a brilliant occasion between two major European clubs.”
“Pre-season preparation is always an important time and of course Chelsea will present us with a strong and exciting challenge.”
“We are so fortunate to have such a strong support worldwide and particularly right across the U.S. so our visit I am sure will allow our fans a great opportunity to see the team in action and in turn we really look forward to seeing our fans there.”
“To be playing at the famous and iconic University of Notre Dame at such a fantastic venue will be a unique moment for the club and we are sure the home of the “Fighting Irish”, will generate huge support for Celtic and inspire a great sporting occasion.”
The match returns international soccer to Notre Dame Stadium. In July 2019, Borussia Dortmund defeated Liverpool, 3-2, in front of 40,361 fans.
“We are thrilled to be able to welcome Chelsea and Celtic to Notre Dame Stadium this summer,” said incoming Notre Dame Vice President and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua. “It is special that Celtic chose to play at Notre Dame in their first trip stateside in over a decade and joining six-time English Premiere League champion Chelsea will make for an unbelievable experience. I cannot wait for fans across the World to be able to visit and enjoy Notre Dame and the South Bend community while cheering on their clubs.”
For information regarding match parking, Notre Dame Stadium bag policy, local dining and more, visit experience.nd.edu.