The stage is set for FC Juarez against Club America in the 915

The “summer of football” is in full swing, the European Championship is preparing for the knockout phase of the tournament, the Copa America just started a few days ago and the El Paso Locomotive season is approaching its halfway point. Tonight, football fans of the border region are in for a special treat.

Liga BBVA MX clubs FC Juarez and Club America will face each other for the first time outside Mexico when they play a pre-season match at the Sun Bowl.

The Bravos were in the Sun City in the spring when they faced MountainStar Sports Group sister organization El Paso Locomotive FC in an international friendly at Southwest University Park. The last time Mexico’s most hated soccer team was in town was 15 years ago when they played an exhibition match against Cruz Azul, also at the Sun Bowl.

These two teams arrived in El Paso at different times in their preseason training. America won the league championship on May 26, less than a month ago. They had about 20 days of vacation before arriving at the team’s training facilities in Coapa (a suburb south of Mexico City) days ago. In total, they have completed five days of preseason training so far.

The Bravos’ season ended on April 27 after they failed to make the playoffs. They took a vacation, returned for medicals and began their preseason, which lasted over a month and included time in Puerto Vallarta and central Mexico. The Bravos played three preseason games there before playing an international friendly against New Mexico Uniter in Albuquerque last Wednesday, which they won 3-2.

Club America has not played a single warm-up match.

As for what fans can expect, FC Juarez striker Aitor Garcia said in a conversation with local media yesterday that he hopes for a “party”. Garcia said: “It will be a warm-up game, we still have a few weeks until the start of the regular season and tomorrow should be a party and a spectacle. The fans will see the two-time champions play in El Paso, in a game that both teams want to win. We want the fans to enjoy a nice game, to have fun and for us to continue preparing for the upcoming season.”

The crowd favorite on Sunday night is undoubtedly American Alejandro Zendjas. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder is a Borderlands native who was born in Ciudad Juarez before moving to El Paso at just one year old. Zendejas has become an established player for Club America, starting in important games and playing in the important minutes when he is not playing, providing assists and scoring goals.

Zendejas spoke to the media at the team hotel on Saturday evening after returning to El Paso.

“I’m happy, I love being here, it’s my home and since my parents live here, it’s just great to be back,” Zendejas said. As for playing at the Sun Bowl, Zendejas said, “It will be different playing at the Sun Bowl (than facing FC Juarez at Benito Juarez Olympic Stadium). I’m expecting a great atmosphere, we’ve been told they’re expecting a big crowd, all hoping for a good game.”

Alejandro Zendejas expects to get some playing time despite having to undergo surgery on a broken nose during the short offseason.

The highly anticipated preseason game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. MST. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com. If you can’t make it to the Sun Bowl, the game will be televised nationally on Fox Deportes.