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SANDY — Real Salt Lake announced Thursday a friendly against Liga MX champion Atlas on Sept. 22 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The match will be part of the Leagues Cup Showcase: a preview to the 2023 Leagues Cup between all 29 MLS and 18 Liga MX clubs next summer.
"Real Salt Lake is proud of our vast history of competing against international opponents, whether that be in CONCACAF Champions League, international friendlies or the 2019 Leagues Cup," RSL President John Kimball said in a statement. "Welcoming Atlas FC in September to Utah for the 42nd international RSL game against 30 different opponents from 16 various countries will no doubt serve as a fantastic reward for our incredible supporters."
RSL's last international matchup came in 2019 against Liga MX club Tigres at Rio Tinto as part of the 2019 Leagues Cup. Tigres won the match 1-0, giving RSL an 18-12-11 overall international record.
Real Salt Lake vs
— Fatima Nawabi (@nawa201) July 25, 2019
Tigres Uanl
July 24, 2019#LeaguesCup#VamosTigres#LigaBBVAMX#RealSaltLake#RSLpic.twitter.com/Mng8Rkwn09
RSL, Atlas and Tigres will all participate in the 2023 Leagues Cup, the latest edition of the annual, monthlong tournament between MLS and Liga MX.
The tournament champion earns automatic qualification for the CONCACAF Champions League round of 16. In addition, clubs finishing second and third in Leagues Cup starting in 2023 will qualify for the opening round of the CCL.
"It is a privilege to be able to play in Salt Lake City against a team that has marked an era in MLS," Atlas FC Executive President Jose Riestra said in a statement. "Hopefully we can continue to join forces to be able to satisfy our fans in the United States."
Atlas FC is the current Liga MX Campeón de Campeones — the overall Mexican league champion — given the club's back-to-back Apertura 2021 and Clausura 2022 season wins.
