:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46244290/GettyImages-183084286.0.jpg)
In possibly the most off the wall friendly rumored to date, the New York Red Bulls might be hosting Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv this summer. The team which will be entering next season's Champions League is looking to hold preseason in the US.
Maccabi Tel Aviv are expected to travel to the United States this summer for training camp and could face MLS squads before Champions League
— Raphael Gellar (@Raphael_Gellar) April 30, 2015
In case you don't know who Raphael Gellar is (I didn't until today), he works for the BBC World Service and Vice Sports in Israel, so his word carries some weight in this matter. A few hours after this was posted, Soccer By Ives editor Danial Karell seemed to confirm it.
According to reports in Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv is planning to hold summer training camp in NYC, w/matches against #RBNY #NYCosmos, #NYCFC
— Daniel Karell (@DanielKarell) April 30, 2015
Karell followed his tweet up with another linking to an article. It is in Hebrew and I could not get Google translate to give me an English version.
@MarkFishkin @thesportsrabbi http://t.co/R2Jk7l5NNa
— Daniel Karell (@DanielKarell) April 30, 2015
Take this rumor with a huge grain of salt. Maccabi Tel Aviv is not a team that screams "payday" that's typically associated with mid-season friendlies. Also, with the ICC giving them 2 friendlies, a 3rd would be more unnecessary schedule congestion. If this does happen, I would assume it's more of a closed door scrimmage and training session than official friendly.