Beckham´s LA Galaxy to return to New Zealand

David Beckham’s LA Galaxy team will return to New Zealand in December for an exhibition match in Auckland, officials said Tuesday.

The US Major League Soccer team and its English celebrity skipper played the Wellington Phoenix in an exhibition late last year and will return to the country for a match against an Oceania All Stars team.

A crowd of nearly 32,000 saw Beckham’s team beat the Wellington team 4-1 last year and up to 40,000 are expected for the Auckland match.

The Galaxy will play an Oceania All Stars invitational team captained by New Caledonian and French player Christian Karembeu.

There are hopes of including three international players from outside the Oceania region, officials said.

“Hosting David Beckham and the LA Galaxy for a match at the ARC’s Mt Smart Stadium will bring a global sporting superstar of a popular sport to the people of the Auckland region,” Auckland Regional Council chairman Michael Lee said.