LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Recently signed defender Giorgio Chiellini will be the honorary falconer before Wednesday evening’s Los Angeles Football Club-FC Dallas game as the team with Major League Soccer’s best record seeks to extend its four-game unbeaten streak in league play.
One of the team’s four falcons is released before the start of each game at Banc of California Stadium for a pregame flight at the center of the field, hunting a lure of the opponent’s crest.
LAFC announced the 37-year-old Chiellini’s signing June 13. He played the past 17 years with the Italian Serie A team Juventus FC, leading it on an unprecedented run that included nine consecutive Serie A titles from 2011-2020. Chiellini is a three-time Serie A Defender of the Year and was selected to Serie A’s Team of the Year five consecutive times from 2012-2018.
Chiellini will be eligible to play for LAFC when the transfer window opens July 7. LAFC will play the Los Angeles Galaxy the next day.
LAFC improved to 10-3-3 with 2-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls Sunday. FC Dallas is 7-4-5, seventh in the league.
Some tickets remain available but the team is anticipating a sellout, an LAFC official told City News Service. LAFC has sold out every MLS game at Banc of California Stadium that has been allowed to be played at full capacity.
The 7:30 p.m. game will be televised by FS1 and Fox Deportes.
