Soccer Series to Feature Olympic Teams

The Camel World Class Soccer Series, which will include statewide competition among 64 recreational teams, a schedule of international exhibition matches between Olympic teams and a tournament of world-class teams from North America, will be held in July, August and September.

The winner of the tournament will play Racing of Argentina in the Copa de Las Americas final Sept. 17 at the Coliseum.

In the first round of the North American tournament, Atlante of Mexico will play Municipal of Guatemala July 16 at El Paso, Tex.; Pumas of Mexico will play Olimpia of Honduras July 26 at San Antonio; Morelia of Mexico will play Saprissa of Costa Rica Aug. 7 at San Jose, and U de G of Mexico will play Aguila of El Salvador Aug. 14 at Santa Ana Stadium in Santa Ana. The winning teams will earn $10,000.

In the second round, which is worth $20,000 to the winning teams, the winners from San Jose and Santa Ana will meet Aug. 21 in the Coliseum and the winners from El Paso and San Antonio will meet Aug. 28. at Santa Ana.

The North American final will be played Sept. 11 in the Coliseum, with the winner earning $30,000. The North American winner will then play Racing from Argentina for $40,000.

The international exhibition matches will begin July 7 at Santa Ana with El Salvador’s national team playing Morelia of Mexico. On Aug. 31 in the Coliseum, El Salvador will play Brazil and Argentina will play Mexico. Brazil, Argentina and Mexico have qualified for the Seoul Olympics. El Salvador will play Argentina, and Brazil will play Mexico, Sept. 2 in the Coliseum. Brazil will play Mexico Sept. 5 in Chicago’s Comiskey Park.

Competition among adult recreational leagues, the Camel Challenge Cup, will begin July 2 at Whittier Narrows in South El Monte for the teams in the California Soccer League, the Lincoln Soccer League and the Latin American Soccer League.

Competition will begin July 9 at Santa Ana’s Centennial Park for the Orange Soccer League, the Coast Soccer League, the Anaheim Soccer League and the Pacific Soccer League. Competition will begin July 16 at Sylmar’s El Cariso Regional Park for Budweiser, Oxnard, Ventura, Delano and Santa Barbara teams. And competition will begin July 23 at Ford Regional County Park in Bell Gardens for Mexico, Asta, Guatemala and Olympic league teams.