Dubai: Some of the world's top footballers will play a match in Dubai next month as star-studded Italian club AC Milan take on French rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the Dubai Football Challenge.
The highly anticipated match will feature the likes of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Brazilian superstars Robinho, Alexandre Pato and Thiago Silva for AC Milan, plus Javier Pastore, Jérémy Ménez and Mamadou Sakho for PSG. It will take place on January 4, at Al Ahli's Rashid Stadium.
It is jointly sponsored by Emirates airline and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.
PSG are two-time Ligue 1 winners and have claimed the Coupe de France title eight times, while AC Milan, who are widely regarded as one of the most successful clubs in world football, not only have an outstanding Serie A record but have also claimed the Champions League/European Cup seven times in their history.
Hamad Mohammad Bin Mejren, Executive Director of Business Tourism at DTCM, said: "We are looking forward to a successful fourth edition of the Dubai Football Challenge with two great teams like AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. "As part of The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing's strategy to promote Dubai, this event will contribute to position Dubai as a leading tourism and sport destination, and stimulate visitors from key targeted markets around the world."
Ahmad Khoury, Emirates Senior Vice-President for the Gulf, Middle East and Iran, said: "As the shirt sponsor of both AC Milan and PSG, it is a real coup for us to bring these two world-class teams to Dubai.
"Emirates is involved with football sponsorships around the globe so being able to offer fans in the UAE the chance to experience top-class international teams up close is an excellent way of leveraging our sponsorship benefits."
Tickets will go on sale soon and will be available at Virgin Megastores and online through ITP Tickets and Virgin as well as from Al Ahli Football Club.
The last time the Dubai Football Challenge was held was in 2009, an AC Milan side featuring the likes of David Beckham and Ronaldinho beat German Club Hamburg — who had won the first two competitions in 2007 and 2008 — on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
