Everton will face the MLS All-Stars later this year. The glamorous pre-season friendly against America's best will take place in Salt Lake City on Wednesday 29 July.

The match is the first confirmed fixture of the 2009 summer schedule but Everton supporters are advised that the first-team squad will not be based in Salt Lake City and the game will form part of a wider tour across North America.

It will be the Blues' fifth visit to the USA in their last six pre-season tours, which have included stays in Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and Colorado.

"We are all looking forward to the match in Salt Lake City," said Blues boss David Moyes. "I am sure there will be a lot of interest in the game and it will be a valuable part of our pre-season schedule. We always enjoy spending time in America during the summer because the facilities are first-class and there is a warm welcome wherever we go."

The venue for this summer's showpiece will be the newly-built 20,000-seater Rio Tinto Stadium.

"I can't wait to play the MLS All-Stars," said Everton's American goalkeeper Tim Howard. "I will doubtless know a few of the guys in the US team and I know full well that it will be a real test for us at that stage of our pre-season.

"The fans over there always enjoy watching English teams in action and I'm sure there will be a terrific atmosphere in the stadium. We played in Salt Lake a couple of years ago but it will be nice to go to the new one."