United Confirm Yokohama Game

Manchester United have today announced the first team will play a pre-season game in Japan against Yokohama F·Marinos as part of Tour 2013, presented by Aon.

The game, sponsored by Kagome, the club’s official partner in Japan, will take place on 23 July at The Nissan Stadium in Yokohama and the team is looking forward to being welcomed by some of United’s 4million Japanese followers.

Kagome, along with match promoters Disk Garage, invited Manchester United to play in Yokohama. This match will be an exciting opportunity for Japanese fans to watch the Reds play against one of Japan’s best football teams.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill said:

"Manchester United has great memories of playing in Japan and our game against the Yokohama F· Marinos will play an important part of our pre-season preparations. The Nissan Stadium is one of the best in the world and Manchester United has a connection with it, having become the first English team to win the FIFA Club World Cup there.

"The club’s three main priorities when arranging a pre-season tour is to first and foremost allow the team to prepare for the season ahead, to engage with our global fan base and to connect with our family of commercial sponsors. I am confident that our visit to Yokohama will be successful in delivering all these objectives."

Akira Kaetsu, president of Yokohama F·Marinos, said:

"We are very honoured to be given this opportunity to play against Manchester United, an outstanding team that represents the world both in name and reality. We, Yokohama F·Marinos, will show our best performance during the 2013 season from 2 March, so that on 23 July, as a team that represents Japan, we can make a great impact on the soccer fans of the world. We look forward to seeing you at the Nissan Stadium."

Aon is delighted to be the Presenting Partner of Manchester United’s 2013 Tour, offering its expertise in risk management, insurance, reinsurance brokerage and human resources solutions. Greg Case, president and chief executive officer of Aon, said:

"Being chosen by Manchester United as the ‘Presenting Partner’ for its 2013 tour is further demonstration of the strength of our relationship. This is a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate how our global partnership provides value for our clients, colleagues and communities, and it will show our clients and prospects, particularly in Asia, how the issues we help them with, such as risk management or health care, are equally relevant and important in the world of business and the world of sport."