Three-time Serie A champion AS Roma have been confirmed as the final team to complete the International Champions Cup Australia, which will be held in July 2015 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Legendary forward Francesco Totti, Daniele de Rossi and the rest of Roma’s squad will open the tournament against Real Madrid on July 18th, before facing Manchester City on July 21st.
Prior to today’s announcement, speculation was Inter Milan were going to be the third team involved in the ICC Australia. But organizers opted for Roma because Rudi Garcia’s side have recently challenged Juventus for Italian supremacy and have been involved in European football.
Roma currently trail league-leading Juve by three points in Serie A and are one match away from advancing to the Champions League Round of 16.
European powerhouses Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Inter Milan and Olympiacos are understood to be considering joining the summer event in the coming years.
The marquee match-up of this summer’s tournament in Australia will undoubtedly be on July 24th when Manchester City face the ten-time champions of Europe, Real Madrid.
The Australian publication the Herald Sun is reporting that organizers Nine Live and TLA Worldwide have signed a four-year deal to host the ICC in Australia.
With the teams for ICC Australia now complete, it is expected that the teams and venues for the ICC North America will be announced shortly.
