Borussia Dortmund scheduling US tour for 2023

German giants Borussia Dortmund announced plans for a US tour in the summer of 2023 for preseason. With the United States among the hosts for the 2026 World Cup, Borussia Dortmund seeks to grow its brand across the pond.

“North America, but also greater America, are very important markets for us,” team managing director Carsten Cramer explained. “It is a logical consequence that we will go back to the United States next Summer.”

“We are happy we made our plans for southeast Asia this year and the United States next year. It won’t be the last time we will go.”

In the summer of 2022, Dortmund played all of its summer friendlies in Austria and Germany. However, Dortmund does have a three-match slate scheduled for a rare November tour in southeast Asia. This off time comes as a result of the 2022 World Cup. While down there, the Black and Yellows play Indonesian clubs Persib Bandung and Persebaya Surabaya. Then, Dortmund travels to Singapore to play Lion City Sailors to finish off the trip.

Borussia Dortmund returns with US tour in 2023

Last time the German club came to the United States was in 2019. That Borussia Dortmund US tour included games against Seattle Sounders and then-defending Champions League winners Liverpool. A 16-year-old Giovanni Reyna started that game for Dortmund against the Merseyside club.

Cramer also suggested during the press conference that his team have a developing social media growth here in the United States. American Christian Pulisic certainly helped this uptick in popularity of Dortmund. Cramer previously acknowledged this in an interview from 2018. “We do have very very attractive door opener, who makes it easier to meet people, especially the young generation,” stated Cramer.

“In the young generation, football has a higher relevance. If you have one of their generation wearing a black and yellow shirt, it gives us a deeper and more intense impact than without him (Pulisic). We analyze the digital reach, the followers when we present to the American public.”

Although Pulisic is now with Chelsea, Dortmund’s popularity is still very strong. The club is widely considered to be the second-most popular Bundesliga team behind Bayern Munich. Numbers suggest the gap between the two German rivals may be closing.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Revierfoto