Spirit to host Aresenal, Chelsea for friendlies

The Washington Spirit will host English soccer powers Arsenal and Chelsea F.C. for a pair of international friendlies in August.

The club announced the inaugural Washington Spirit International Friendlies on Monday.

Arsenal, who have won 14 English Women's Super League championships, will be making their first appearance in the United States when they meet the Spirit on Aug. 18. The Arsenal roster includes Emily Fox, a native of nearby Ashburn, Va.

The following week, on Aug. 25, the Spirit will meet the Kansas City Current in National Women's Soccer League play. Arsenal will play Chelsea, the seven-time Women's Super League champions, following that match.

"This is a major step in growing the women's game at home and abroad as the best in England face the best in the United States," Spirit CEO Kim Stone said in a news release. "We are very proud to offer global soccer followers unprecedented access to some of the top club competition in the world."

Arsenal managing director Richard Garlick said the club is happy to introduce its brand to a new international audience.

"To take our women's team to the U.S. for the first time on tour is another sign of great progress," he said. "We know from our recent trip to Australia that the interest and love for Arsenal Women stretches far and wide. We want to build on that and bring our US supporters closer to the club."

--Field Level Media