Chelsea to face Beckham's LA Galaxy in pre-season tour

LONDON, Mar 9 (Reuters) Premier League champions Chelsea will take on David Beckham's next club, Los Angeles Galaxy, in a pre-season tour of the United States in July, organisers said today.

The game on July 21 will be the showcase of a four-team tournament, the World Series of Football, and could see the former England captain playing in a Galaxy shirt for the first time after his move from Real Madrid.

Beckham will move when his Real contract expires at the end of this season after agreeing a five-year deal in January worth 250 million dollars, financed heavily by endorsements and bonuses based on the future success of Major League Soccer (MLS).

Chelsea will be making their fourth consecutive pre-season tour in the United States for the four-match series.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, in a video message to the series launch, said: ''The fact that David Beckham is there brings something extra to the tournament and to the game.

''This gives me the chance to wish him big success in the US He will be very important for U.S. soccer and for the relationship between US soccer and European soccer.'' The series, to be played on two double-header days on July 17 and 21 at Carson, south of downtown Los Angeles, will also feature South Korea's Suwon Bluewings, owned by Chelsea's official shirt sponsor Samsung, and Mexican club Tigres.

Chelsea, who will also play at another venue in California on July 14, have agreed to return in 2009 and 2011 for the two-yearly series, which is the result of an alliance between the west London club and Galaxy's owners, the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).

Tim Leiweke, AEG's president and chief executive officer, said: ''Matches like this are the next step to providing MLS clubs, in particular the Galaxy, credibility throughout the world and proof that US soccer can compete against the best clubs.'' As part of its deal with AEG, Chelsea have agreed a club-to-club relationship with the Galaxy, covering programmes and exchanges on young players, medical issues and coaching.

REUTERS DH KN1812