LONDON, Sept 16 - British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to host Canadian Premier Mark Carney at a soccer fixture on Wednesday, giving the two leaders an opportunity to meet in person and to share time at a match involving Everton, a club both men support.
Burnham, who assumed the role of prime minister in July, told Carney during their first telephone conversation two days later that he would "roll out the blue carpet" - an allusion to Everton's blue kit - and invited the Canadian leader to attend a game. That invitation is now being fulfilled.
Before heading into Goodison Park for the third-round League Cup clash, the two leaders will convene in Liverpool for bilateral talks. Those discussions are likely to touch on their mutual objectives of pursuing closer ties with Europe, maintaining a strong NATO defence alliance and fostering growth in trade.
After their formal meetings, both men will be spectators for 90 minutes with a shared hope that Everton will prevail over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the cup tie.
Everton occupy a notable place in the history of English football. The club was a founding member of the Football League in 1888 and remains among the game's most storied institutions. Despite a prolonged period without a major trophy that has stretched beyond three decades, Everton have accumulated nine top-flight league titles, ranking them fifth in the country by that measure.
Burnham has publicly identified himself as a lifelong Everton supporter, tracing his attendance at matches back to his childhood in the 1970s and continuing to attend when his schedule permits, including now as prime minister. Carney has attributed part of his Everton allegiance to cousins in Liverpool and has attended Everton matches in the past, notably during a seven-year period when he lived in Britain while serving as governor of the Bank of England.
The visit combines official diplomacy with a high-profile sporting appearance, reflecting both leaders' personal connections to the club and a wider agenda of political and economic issues they plan to discuss ahead of the match.