ICC 2016The best teams in life are worth waiting for. #ICC2016Real Madrid C.F. Leicester City Football Club A.C. MilanPSG - Paris Saint-GermainFC Bayern MunichFC BarcelonaChelsea Football ClubLiverpool FCF.C. Internazionale MilanoCeltic FC
Posted by International Champions Cup on Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Relevent Sports, a division of RSE Ventures – a multi-national sports and entertainment venture firm with a focus on new technologies – today announced the matchups, venues and dates of the 2016 International Champions Cup. This year’s tournament kicks off the 2016-2017 international soccer season and features 10 of the best clubs in the world competing across the United States and Europe.
For the first time, all 2016 International Champions Cup matches will be broadcast on ESPN and their family of networks, demonstrating the strength and prestige of the tournament. A full TV schedule of matches on ESPN will be released at a later date.
10 clubs from across Europe are participating in the highly anticipated season-opening tournament, including teams from Spain, England, Germany, France, Italy and Scotland. Following is a list of teams:
- Real Madrid C.F.
- FC Barcelona
- FC Bayern Munich
- Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
- Chelsea F.C.
- Liverpool F.C.
- F.C. Internazionale
- Celtic F.C.
- A.C. Milan
- Leicester City F.C.
“The competition and clubs involved this year speaks to the continued growth and success the International Champions Cup has experienced in its four year history,” said Charlie Stillitano, Chairman of Relevent Sports. “This is the best roster of teams in ICC history and having them start their 2016-2017 campaign playing against each other will be a treat for both fans and the players. Matches like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium and Chelsea vs. Liverpool at Rose Bowl Stadium demonstrates the elite competition the ICC stands for. We are continuing to set the gold standard for soccer in America and abroad and are excited for summer to start.”
This year's International Champions Cup features the most storied and successful clubs in the world, including many of the world's top players. The 10 participating teams have won a total of 190 domestic league titles, 246 domestic cup titles and 36 UEFA Champions League titles. The teams feature 18 of the 2015-2016 FIFA Ballon d'Or nominees, as well as 50 of the top 100 players in the world as chosen yearly by renowned English magazine FourFourTwo. The International Champions Cup is the first tournament of the 2016-2017 soccer season.
The matchups for the 2016 International Champions Cup are some of the best in the tournaments history, with four teams – Real Madrid C.F., FC Barcelona, FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain – stilly vying for the Champions League title.
The International Champions Cup will open the first major event at the Minnesota Vikings brand new home, as A.C. Milan will take on Chelsea at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 3. The International Champions Cup has a rich tradition of opening new venues for soccer, including Lucas Oil Stadium and Dodger Stadium in 2013, and University of Michigan with the highest attended soccer game, with 109,318 fans in attendance, a year later.
Further, the International Champions Cup will host matches at some of the most well-known college stadiums in the country. Real Madrid will play Paris Saint-German at Ohio Stadium on Wednesday, July 27, while Paris Saint-Germain will meet F.C. Internazionale at Autzen Stadium in Oregon on Sunday, July 24.
"This year will be extra special for the International Champions Cup. We are opening multiple stadiums for soccer including U.S. Bank Stadium and Autzen Stadium, and bringing soccer back to Ohio Stadium for the first time in nearly two decades,” said David Tyler, CEO of Relevent Sports. “The ICC has truly excelled in hosting the best matches featuring elite competition in new and iconic venues, but 2016 will be the pinnacle.”
Exclusive presale tickets for most matchups will be available beginning Tuesday, March 29, while general public will have access to tickets Tuesday, April 5. Fans can sign up at www.internationalchampionscup.com for access to the presale. All venue-specific and other ticket information is available at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
Each team will play three matches and the club with the most points at the end of the tournament will be crowned champion. Each win in regulation will result in three points and a tie will go straight to a shootout; the winning team in a shootout will receive two points and the losing team will receive one. "The 2016 International Champions Cup returns with multiple games across Europe and the United States," said Matt Higgins, CEO of RSE Ventures. "These high-level matchups are yet another example of how in four short years, the ICC has grown into a massive global brand with worldwide appeal. To have three concurrent tournaments throughout the United States, China and Australia is a testament to the team and the brand as a whole. The ICC will continue to attract the top talent and teams in the world and we look forward to the future of the tournament both domestically and internationally."
Following is a list of the schedule of the tournament:
Saturday, July 23
- Celtic F.C. vs. Leicester City F.C. – Celtic Park; Glasgow, Scotland. 12:30 p.m. EST
Sunday, July 24
- Paris Saint-Germain F.C. vs. F.C. Internazionale – Autzen Stadium; Eugene, Oregon. 5:00 p.m. EST
Wednesday, July 27
- Real Madrid C.F. vs. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. – Ohio Stadium; Columbus, Ohio. 7:30 p.m. EST
- F.C. Bayern Munich vs. A.C. Milan – Soldier Field; Chicago, Illinois. 9:00 p.m. EST
- Liverpool F.C. vs. Chelsea F.C. – Rose Bowl; Pasadena, California. 11:00 p.m. EST
Saturday, July 30
- F.C. Barcelona vs. Celtic F.C. – Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland. 1:00 p.m. EST
- Chelsea F.C. vs. Real Madrid C.F. – TBA United States Venue and Time
- F.C. Bayern Munich vs. F.C. Internazionale – Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, North Carolina. 5:00 p.m. EST
- Liverpool F.C. vs. A.C. Milan – Levi’s Stadium; Santa Clara, California. 10:00 p.m. EST
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Leicester City F.C. – Los Angeles, California. TBA Venue and Time
Wednesday, August 3
- F.C. Barcelona vs. Leicester City F.C. – Friends Arena; Stockholm, Sweden. 2:00 p.m. EST
- F.C. Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid C.F. – MetLife Stadium; East Rutherford, New Jersey. 7:30 p.m.
- Chelsea F.C. vs. A.C. Milan – U.S. Bank Stadium; Minneapolis, Minnesota. 9:00 p.m. EST
Saturday, August 6
- Liverpool F.C. vs. F.C. Barcelona – TBA European Venue and Time
Saturday, August 13
- Celtic F.C. vs. F.C. Internazionale – TBA European Venue and Time
In 2016, the International Champions Cup will once again be played across the globe, including standalone tournaments in both China and Australia. The ICC expanding overseas demonstrates the immense global appeal of the tournament and demand for elite competition during the summer. Clubs participating in the two overseas showcases include Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Juventus F.C., Atletico Madrid and Melbourne Victory F.C, providing even more fans from around the world the opportunity to see their favorite clubs live.
