Soccer star David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates will tour South Korea and China next month, before playing an exhibition game in Canada against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in May, the Major League Soccer team announced Thursday.

 

The team is expected to play in Seoul, South Korea March 1 against FC Seoul and March 5 in Shanghai, China against the China All-Star Union team.

 

Foreign tours are among the ways the Galaxy hopes to meet its goal of generating 100 million dollars a year in revenues, which would put it among the top tier of soccer teams around the world.

 

Canada is the third nation outside the US the Galaxy will play an exhibition game in 2008.

 

The May 13 game in Edmonton, Alberta will be the Galaxy's second against the Whitecaps, a member of the United Soccer Leagues' First Division, in a six-month span. The two teams played a scoreless tie last November 7 in Vancouver.

 

"We have a tremendous relationship with the Vancouver Whitecaps and share their view of growing the sport throughout North America," Galaxy Assistant General Manager Tom Payne said. "The first time we played the Whitecaps the game ended in a draw. This time, we are looking to score goals, entertain the fans of Edmonton and come away with the victory."

 

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Galaxy will also play a May 31 Major League Soccer game at Toronto FC.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2008)