Joga Bonito Returns to the Bird's Nest for Brazil vs. Argentina

The Beautiful Game's coming home! Well, a version of it, at least. We can't be sure how beautiful it will be. It's more likely to be two footballing superpowers licking their wounds after massive disappointment at the recently concluded World Cup in Brazil – but to be sure, Beijing will host the 2014 edition of the Superclásico de las Américas. The annual battle for South American footballing supremacy is set to be held on foreign soil for the first time when the game is played at the National Stadium on October 11.

The poster for the event rather hopefully displays messrs Messi, Neymar, David Luiz and Javier Mascherano. Perhaps preempting football fan apathy in Beijing, marketing materials for the event move to suggest that there's a decent chance we'll get to see some of the finest exponents of the game on show. An apparent change in scheduling means "the match will take place during a FIFA [friendly] international date. This will allow the stars on both sides to be able to take part in this match."

Hmm, I'm still not sure how much of Messi and Neymar we'll get to see, but I suppose there's a chance. It'll set you back between RMB 199 and RMB 2,999 to find out.

The Superclásico de las Américas itself has been fiercely contested in the past. It was introduced in 2011 and Brazil have won it twice to Argentina's zero wins so far (it was cancelled due to planning for the World Cup last year). Prior to its introduction, Brazil and Argentina had contested the Roca Cup intermittently between 1914 and 1976. Brazil held the upper hand in that head-to-head 7-3 with one draw.

Photo: Courtesy of the organizers