Busch Stadium to host international soccer on Nov. 18

By Jenifer Langosch and Chad Thornburg

October 2, 2013

ST. LOUIS -- Soccer fans will have an opportunity to see one of the game's biggest stars next month when Busch Stadium hosts the Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina national teams on Nov. 18.

The Argentinian team, featuring FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi, recently qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. If Bosnia-Herzegovina fails to qualify, it will be replaced by a team to be determined.

The soccer match will be the second at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals' ballpark drew a record crowd of 48,263 to St. Louis in May for an exhibition between Premier League clubs Manchester City and Chelsea.

"We are very excited to bring soccer back to Busch Stadium," said Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III. "St. Louisans will have what is likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Lionel Messi -- one of the greatest players in the world -- in one of the most iconic settings in St. Louis. Soccer fans won't want to miss it."

Fans can purchase tickets, which go on sale at 10 a.m. CT on Oct. 10, by visiting cardinals.com/soccer or the Busch Stadium box office or by calling 314-345-9000. A special presale for Cardinals season-ticket holders and club VIPs will begin on Oct. 8.

Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, and follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB. Chad Thornburg is an associate reporter for MLB.com.