Real to tour Japan at time of MLS All-Star Game

Real Madrid plans to tour Japan from July 27 to Aug. 1, a decision that means it cannot play in Major League Soccer's All-Star Game if the league sticks to its July 31 date.

Real Madrid said on its Web site Wednesday that it will play in Japan on July 29 and Aug. 1, with opponents and sites to be announced later.

The team had planned a longer and more extensive foreign tour, but it slumped late in the season and finished fourth in the Spanish league, forcing it to play qualifiers for the European Champions League starting Aug. 11.

On May 13, MLS moved its All-Star Game from July 24 to July 31 and said it would be played in Foxboro, Mass. The league held talks with Real Madrid to have the club play an MLS All-Star roster.

David Beckham scored his first goal for Real Madrid in Japan during the team's Asian tour last summer. Madrid beat FC Tokyo 3-0 at the National Stadium.

Madrid, which will be under its new coach Jose Antonio Camacho, will resume training earlier than envisaged on July 7 and will set up a training camp at an unspecified spot nine days later. The leading sports daily Marca said Wednesday a location near the southern town of Jerez de La Frontera is the most likely.

Madrid will be hoping for better fortunes after ending this season without a major trophy for the first time since 1999. The star-studded team lost its last five matches -- the worst streak in its history -- and finished fourth in the league.