Liverpool FC and Pittsburgh Steelers players hail clubs' Irish links

Irish soccer players Conor Bradley and Caoimhin Kelleher received a warm welcome with some Pittsburgh Steelers uniforms ahead of Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Real Betis on Friday night. Liverpool has touched down in Pittsburgh, PA for the kick-off of their US tour. They've joined forces with the Steelers, marking an Irish affair as both teams boast strong ties to the Emerald Isle.

In a nod to their heritage , Northern Irelands Bradley and Republic of Irelands Kelleher were delighted to be presented Steelers jerseys by no other than Dan Rooney III, the Steelers' strategy and business development chief.

The Liverpool stars were gifted Steelers jerseys sporting their respective names and Liverpool squad numbers. It's well known that Liverpool has got the strongest Irish roots of any English city, with its soccer fans being some of the most devoted around , reports Liverpool.com .

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Not to be outdone in the heritage stakes, the Steelers too bleed green with the Rooney clan setting up shop stateside back in the 1840s. The same family went on to bring the Steelers into the world in 1933, still holding the reins of the American football giants.

With their strong Irish links, the Steelers are at the forefront of the push to bring the NFL to Ireland. "As part of our long-term planning, we aspire to return to the island to play an NFL game," they said regarding their Global Market Program bid on their official website.

Every year, Dublin welcomes two American college football teams for a match. This August, the Aviva Stadium will host the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, where Georgia Tech will take on FSU in a sold-out event.

The NFL's popularity is growing worldwide, with the sport expanding into Brazil and Spain following successful games in England, Germany, and Mexico. European football is also gaining traction among US fans, with Liverpool FC set to embark on another successful tour of the States.

The Reds are no strangers to playing in the US, especially since being acquired by Fenway Sports Group. The group, led by John Henry, also owns the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Penguins, fuelling speculation about the potential purchase or establishment of an NBA team.

Liverpool will play three matches in the US before returning home. Their first game will be against Betis at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium this Friday.

They will then head to Philadelphia to face Arsenal at Lincoln Financial Field on July 31. Their final match in the US will be a thrilling encounter with Manchester United at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina on Aug. 3.

Liverpool's last preseason game will be at Anfield against Sevilla on Aug. 11, before they kick off the new 2024-25 Premier League season with an away game against newly promoted Ipswich Town on Aug 17.

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