ST. LOUIS–After electrical problems delayed it's opening, St. Louis CITY SC announced it will host its inaugural match at CITYPARK next month when CITY2 takes on Bayer Leverkusen for an international competition ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

The match will be on Nov. 16 at 7 PM. Tickets will go on sale Oct. 28 at 2pm on St. Louis CITY SC’s app. 

“An international friendly with a Champions League-caliber club is the perfect way to introduce our new world-class stadium and district to our fans, the greater soccer community and the world,” said St. Louis CITY SC President and CEO, Carolyn Kindle in a press release.

This will be the first time time fans will see a match in the new 22,500-seat stadium and sample the STLMade fan experience, which includes diverse culinary and music options. 

“This match will not only be great for St. Louis, it will be a great test for our team and an amazing opportunity to step foot onto the field at CITYPARK for the first time,” said St. Louis CITY SC Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel in a press release. “We couldn’t think of a better way to showcase the new stadium with a match against a Champions League team like Leverkusen.

This will be the German team’s second trip to North America in six months as the team continues to build the Bayer 04 brand in key markets around the world. 

“The history of the sport in St. Louis runs deep and the passion St. Louis CITY SC have already built up for the inaugural season with their fans and broader community is amazing to see,” said  Bayer 04 Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro.

CITY2 captured the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference tournament title in its first year of play. Leverkusen has a sporting heritage that dates back to 1904 with its founding as a company sports club and football team for the Bayer Corporation, which is based in Leverkusen, Germany and has a strong presence in St. Louis.

Presale access to the event will be available to CITY SC season ticket members and for myCITY+ members. To purchase tickets to the international friendly, go to seatgeek.com.