The 2015 International Champions Cup has announced a trio of clubs to feature in the competition to be played in China. Reigning UEFA Champions League winners, Real Madrid, headline the list and they will be joined in Asia by Italian clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan.
While the United States has hosted the two-year-old competition in previous years, venues in China and Australia have been added to this year’s edition. The two Milanese clubs will get the Chinese part of the tournament started when the Italian teams face-off on July 25 in Shenzhen.
Matt Higgins, CEO of RSE Ventures (part of the group that assembles teams for the tournament) said of the expansion of the tournament to China, “China represents the next frontier for the International Champions Cup. In just its third year, our tournament has expanded into four continents and truly become an international property.”
Higgins went on the finish, “The International Champions Cup will define the summer of 2015 and beyond across the world. We look forward to continued interest in the International Champions Cup and introducing our tournament to additional fans.”
Real Madrid’s first match in China is two days later, on the 27th of July; however, the Spanish giants will have already played two other exhibition matches, because Los Blancos are also a part of the Australian installment of the tournament (as are Manchester City and Roma).
International Champions Cup matches to be played in the United States are set to be announced during a press conference on April 28th. While it seems as if Australia and China will each host three clubs a piece, America will be hosting a record 10 teams, with seven of them being international clubs.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Fiorentina, Club America, Porto, Barcelona, all join American clubs New York Red Bulls, LA Galaxy, and San Jose Earthquakes in the United States version of the competition.
Manchester United won the International Champions Cup last summer, while Real Madrid were victorious in the inaugural pre-season tournament during the summer of 2013.
With the United States schedule yet to be released, those soccer fans in America should play close attention to the aforementioned press conference to see if any of the matches will be played nearby.
