Stoke City to visit the United States

Stoke City will travel to the United States as part of their pre-season programme.

The Potters will face Columbus Crew on July 24, before facing Orlando City four days later.

The club will complete the tour against Sporting Kansas City on August 1, and chief executive Tony Scholes believes that the tour will benefit the squad.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the club, not only in terms of the quality of the pre-season test it will provide for the squad, but also in raising our profile even higher on a global scale," Scholes told the club's official website.

"It will give the squad the chance to work in excellent surroundings and we know that the opposition will provide a stern test."

Stoke City and Orlando announced a team partnership in 2008.