Monterey Bay FC is set to battle in its first international game as the team works to expand its global reach.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about Monterey Bay FC’s first-ever international game against Pachuca, the oldest Mexican soccer team, set to take place this Saturday, Feb. 28. 

This is an exciting opportunity to meet the new MBFC players, including forwards Omari Glasgow, Wesley Leggett and midfielder Nick Ross, and get a glimpse of Mexican talent. The game also celebrates a partnership announced in January. 

“We are very proud to join forces with Grupo Pachuca, an institution globally recognized for its excellence in player development,” said Oliver Wyss, MBFC’s chairman and chief soccer officer.

Tony Awor, MBFC’s director of recruitment, says this relationship will help close the gap between the Mexican and American soccer markets. 

“Pachuca is a very well-supported club. It's one of the best clubs in League MX for producing young players, and that's something that we want to emulate and instill into Monterey Bay and forward,” Awor says. 

The partnership, Awor says, will help both teams recruit and scout young talent, especially among Mexican American youth and give them a platform to develop and reach the professional soccer level. 

MBFC also signed another partnership with German Bundesliga Club Schalke 04.

“Our talent ID is not just in the U.S. market. Now we are looking into Mexico and Latin America, and honestly, the rest of the world,” Awor adds, noting recent international signings including Georgian midfielder Giorgi Lomtadze and Montenegrin defender Luka Malešević. 

Part of the proceeds from Saturday’s game will be for the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. 

“We're really excited about this partnership and what it means for soccer in our region,” says Jonathan De Anda, general manager of the Salinas Regional Sports Authority. “It's a great example of how we can work together to bring high-quality soccer events to the area while creating sustainable support for youth soccer development in Salinas.”

While Pachuca is visiting the Central Coast, the team is scouting players during multiple tryouts. 

The friendly game takes place on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7pm at the Cardinale Stadium in Seaside. 

The party begins the day before, at Alvarado Street Brewery, for fans interested in meeting MBFC and Pachuca players before the Saturday game.

In the spirit of expansion, Monterey Bay FC is also starting its first women’s pre-professional soccer team to compete in the NorCal Division of the United Soccer League W. Branding and the first roster is yet to be announced, but MBFC announced that Laura VanWart will be the first head coach for the inaugural season.

For those who already have their tickets to Saturday’s game, what are you looking forward to?