RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers today announced the club will host an international friendly at City Stadium for the first time since 2018 on Tuesday, July 18 when it faces off against 31-time Guatemalan champions and Concacaf Champions Cup winners Comunicaciones FC. 

"We're excited to welcome Comuncaciones FC to our home at City Stadium, and we are especially thrilled to bring back an international soccer friendly to Richmond after a five-year hiatus," Kickers President and Chief Operating Officer Camp Peery said. "Our intention is to make this celebration of the global game a staple event for our fans and our community every year moving forward."

The arrival of Comunicaciones next month to the River City marks a renewed commitment by the Kickers to host international sides annually after the COVID-19 pandemic complicated the possibility in recent seasons.

Richmond last hosted an international side on July 26, 2018, when RCD Espanyol of Spain's La Liga came to town. Previously, the club has also hosted English Premier League sides Crystal Palace FC (2014), West Bromwich Albion FC (2015) and Swansea City AFC (2016, 2017).

Founded in 1949, Comunicaciones is one of the most successful clubs in Guatemala with a massive following. The club is famous for its cream-colored home kits and is affectionately nicknamed Los Cremas (The Creams). They are also known as El Hexacampeón in honor of winning six-straight championships – the only club in the country to do so.

Fans will be familiar with Comunicaciones after the club’s participation in the 2022 Concacaf Champions League. The club defeated Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids 1-1 on aggregate (4-3 penalties) in the Round of 16 before facing MLS side New York City FC in the Quarterfinals. The epic two legs that finished 5-5 on aggregate against NYCFC saw the MLS side win 3-1 in Hartford, Conn. before Comunicaciones earned a come-from-behind 4-2 victory in Guatemala City. However, NYCFC would advance on away goals.

Comunicaciones won the 2021 Concacaf League – a second-tier continental competition – which earned the side qualification for the 2022 Concacaf Champions League. During its trophy-winning run, the club won seven matches, only dropping one during the tournament, and finished with a plus-seven goal differential and six players on the Team of the Tournament.

Fresh off of a finish at the top of the cumulative table in Liga Nacional de Guatemala, Comunicaciones advanced to the semifinals of the Clausura tournament just last month.

Tickets for the match are on sale now for Kickers+ and Season Ticket members who have first rights to tickets as a benefit of being a member. All ticket sales for the match will be held online, and tickets will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, June 8 at 12 p.m. ET. Suite, hospitality and group packages can also be secured by calling (804) 644-5425.