Queensland will host English Premier League (EPL) Football Clubs, Aston Villa F.C and Leeds United F.C when they contest the very first Queensland Champions Cup alongside A-League club, Brisbane Roar F.C. in July.
The three-match series, to be played across the Sunshine State from 14-20 July, is the revival of a tournament that was launched in 2020 but postponed because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
Each club will participate in two games, with the side amassing the most points claiming the inaugural title.
The tournament will kick-off at the Gold Coast's Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday 14 July when the Brisbane Roar F.C. take on the might of Leeds United.
On Sunday 17 July, Aston Villa and Leeds will face off at Brisbane's iconic Suncorp Stadium before the Roar and Aston Villa head north to Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville for the final match of the series and likely series decider on Wednesday 20 July.
Queensland Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Aston Villa FC and Leeds United FC had a combined history of more than 250 years.
"The English Premier League is among global football's best competitions, bringing two top teams to Queensland demonstrates our reputation as a world-class events destination," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"You won't see the stars of Aston Villa or Leeds United playing in Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide, because in 2022 their only east coast matches are in Queensland.
"Major sporting events like this bring visitors who support local tourism and hospitality jobs and contribute millions to the Queensland economy.
"We're expecting thousands of southern fans to travel to Queensland for the spectacle of their EPL heroes playing on Australian soil."
Coast Mayor Tom Tate said: "What a coup. Leeds United FC versus the Brisbane Roar right here on the coast.
"I watched Villa take on West Ham in the UK last month and I know first-hand the power of their supporters' bases. This will bring exceptional exposure to our city, and I applaud Major Events Gold Coast and all involved.''
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said: "Our state-of-the-art stadium has attracted another world-class sporting event to our city, further reinforcing Townsville's reputation as the sports and events capital of northern Australia.
"Soccer is a very popular sport in Townsville as well as across North Queensland. I have no doubt soccer fans, as well as sports fans more generally, will turn out in droves to see Aston Villa F.C. take on the Brisbane Roar at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
"The event will also provide a boon for the local economy, especially our tourism and hospitality providers who have had a tough couple of years because of COVID-19.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: Brisbane will be the only place in Queensland to soak up a full English Premier League experience when Leeds United and Aston Villa take to the pitch.
"Hosting the state's only exclusive game between the two English sides in Brisbane is a huge opportunity for football fans in Brisbane and right across Australia," Cr Schrinner said.
"This event once again demonstrates that Brisbane is now the nation's sports capital with more teams looking to play in Australia's fast-growing capital city and in front of new Australian audiences."
Aston Villa F.C manager Steven Gerrard: "We are absolutely delighted to be visiting Australia for the first time in the club's history and it will be fantastic for Aston Villa to play against two excellent teams in these wonderful Queensland stadiums in front of our eastern Australian fans.
"The tour comes at a crucial stage of our pre-season so the fitness programme and the games are important, but we also look forward to spending time exploring stunning Queensland and meeting as many people as we can."
Leeds United F.C. manager Jesse Marsch: "It's not only a great opportunity for Leeds to play two exciting games in front of our Queensland fans down under; it's also a great opportunity to visit a beautiful state in a wonderful country which I know loves their sport and is extremely knowledgeable about football.
"This will be our club's third playing trip to Australia and I'm very much looking forward to taking the team back for what will be an important part of our preparations for the 2022/23 season."
Brisbane Roar F.C. CEO David Pourre: "Brisbane Roar prides itself on being a football club for all of Queensland and we are looking forward to playing two exciting fixtures in Townsville and the Gold Coast in July.
"It is also a unique opportunity for Brisbane to also be hosting a fixture featuring two of England's most famous Clubs.
"We are hoping to see plenty of orange in the stands supporting Queensland's A-League Club against two of England's finest Clubs."
TEG CEO, Geoff Jones said event promoter, TEG Sport and partner Left Field Live, looks forward to delivering this marquee event involving three exciting teams.
"The inaugural Queensland Champions Cup is an exciting opportunity for fans and major event goers to witness live two current clubs from the world's leading and most popular football league, the English Premier League," said Jones.
"We are delighted to be staging this event in three of Queensland's premier venues and in three different cities through our event partners Tourism and Events Queensland, Stadiums Queensland, Suncorp Stadium, City of Brisbane, City of Gold Coast and City of Townsville.
"And we'd like to thank the Queensland Government for their role in facilitating the opportunity."
Tickets to the general public go on-sale at 1:00pm AEST on Friday 29th April from www.ticketek.com.au.
Tickets from the 2020 Queensland Champions Cup ticket release are still valid with ticket holders not needing to take any action.
Official corporate hospitality and VIP fan packages are available from 29th April through VIP NOW, including suites, boxes and VIP functions. Head to www.vipnow.com.au.
Delivered to Queensland by the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland in conjunction with TEG Sport and 2022 Queensland Champions Cup partners, Suncorp Stadium managed by ASM Global, Stadiums Queensland, Brisbane City Council, City of Townsville and City of Gold Coast, football fans from across Australia and abroad will be able to watch their heroes in person.
2022 QUEENSLAND CHAMPIONS CUP SCHEDULE
Note: Kick-off times are subject to change
Thursday 14 July (7:45pm AEST)
Cbus Super Stadium - Gold Coast
Brisbane Roar F.C. vs Leeds United F.C.
Sunday 17 July (2:35pm AEST)
Suncorp Stadium - Brisbane
Aston Villa F.C vs Leeds United F.C
Wednesday 20 July (7:45pm AEST)
Queensland Country Bank Stadium - Townsville
Brisbane Roar F.C vs Aston Villa F.C.
GENERAL PUBLIC ON-SALE
1:00pm AEST on Friday 29th April from www.ticketek.com.au
Official corporate hospitality and VIP fan packages are available from today through VIP NOW, including suites, boxes and VIP functions head to www.vipnow.com.au.
Ticket purchasers should note that the final coaching and playing talent selected for the 2022 Queensland Champions Cup may not be from the current squad and are subject to change for reasons including player availability and injury.
THE EPL TEAMS
Both Aston Villa F.C and Leeds United F.C. are steeped in football history with their origins dating back over a century.
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is a great English football institution - enjoying a proud, rich heritage which started with their founding as a club in 1874 and includes being a founding Club of the Football League in 1888.
Based in Birmingham, the Claret and Blue Army is one of only five English Clubs to win club football's most prestigious trophy - the European Cup, which they lifted in 1981-82.
They have also won the Football League First Division seven times, the FA Cup seven times, the League Cup five times, and the European (UEFA) Super Cup once.
The club is currently ranked 5th in the all-time English topflight table, with the Australian matches marking the first time Villa have been abroad in the build-up to a season since 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to such tours.
Leeds United F.C.
Based in West Yorkshire, Leeds United was formed in 1919.
The club currently competes in the Premier League following promotion from the EFL Championship during the 2019-20 season. Most of their history has been spent competing in the first tier of English football.
They have won three Football League First Division titles, one FA Cup in 1971-72, one League Cup, two Charity/Community Shields and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups.
The Mighty Whites were runners-up in the European Cup Winners Cup final in 1973 before they reached the 1975 European Cup Final, losing to Bayern Munich. They also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2001.
This will be the Leeds United F.C's third visit to Australian shores after campaigns in 2002 and 2019.
The Australian Connections
During Aston Villa's 148 years they have had plenty of Australians represent them.
In more contemporary times they have included centre-back and defensive midfielder Mile Jedinak, Perth duo Chris Herd and Shane Lowry, Aston Villa Academy graduate Jordan Lyden and former Brisbane Roar attacking midfielder Brett Holman and former Socceroo goalkeeper Mark Bosnich.
Not to be outdone, for the best part of two decades, Leeds United has been the stamping ground for some of Australia's greatest football players.
Former Socceroos captain Paul Okon, Harry Kewell and prolific scoring striker Mark Viduka are just three of many Aussies who have donned the famous white Leeds football jersey and won over a legion of fans both at home and abroad.
