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West Ham United is thrilled to announce that the men’s first team will visit Florida for the first time for a two-match Sunshine State Tour in summer 2024.
The Hammers will cross the Atlantic Ocean to the United States to take on Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace in two exciting fixtures as part of the inaugural Stateside Cup.
The Irons will take on Wolves at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on Saturday 27 July at 7pm EDT, before facing the Eagles at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Saturday 3 August at 7pm EDT. Palace and Wolves will play in between, with the top performing team being presented with the Stateside Cup.
With interest in the English Premier League growing rapidly in North America, the Club is excited to be returning to the United States to perform in front of the many thousands of supporters who would otherwise only be able to follow West Ham from afar.
“We’re really excited to be heading Stateside this summer for our pre-season tour,” said West Ham United Chief Commercial Officer, Nathan Thompson.
“The US market is key for West Ham United, and the Club’s presence, fan-base and status continues to grow significantly in the States.
“We can’t wait to play the matches and deliver unique experiences and opportunities for our fans and partners in America.”
In addition to facing two Premier League rivals, the squad will spend time in both cities, meeting supporters and immersing themselves in the local cultures and communities.
The Sunshine State Tour will be the first time the Hammers will have played in Florida, which is home to over 21 million people, eleven professional sports teams, collegiate sports, racetracks, golf courses, tennis stadia, as well as world-famous theme parks, iconic cities, unique nature, beautiful beaches and a fascinating history.
The Sunshine State Tour comes just over 60 years since West Ham first headed to the States in the summer of 1963, when Ron Greenwood’s side became the only English team to win the International Soccer League, and marks the seventh time the Irons will have sent a men’s squad to North America in its history.
Previous visits have seen the Hammers take on Spanish giants Real Madrid in the first soccer match to be played indoors at the Houston Astrodome in Texas in 1967, draw with Pele’s Santos of Brazil at Downing Stadium in New York in 1970 and feature against David Beckham’s MLS All-Stars in Toronto, Canada, in 2008.
Our most-recent pre-season tour across the Pond was in 2016, when the Hammers travelled to Seattle, Washington, and Cary, North Carolina.
Everyone at the Club is looking forward to returning to the United States and meeting our North American fans in the summer.