Press Release:
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 2015 International Champions Cup North America Presented by Guinness Beer. This year’s tournament will be broadcast live on FOX, FOX Sports 1 or FOX Sports 2 and run from July 11 – August 5.
The 2015 International Champions Cup North America will feature the best clubs in the world competing across 12 regions in Canada, Mexico, England, Italy and the United States. One year after winning the largest attended soccer match in United States history, Manchester United will face another Spanish giant, Barcelona, at Levi’s Stadium in one of the premier games of the tournament. Another matchup will feature the current English Premier League leader, Chelsea, facing current Spanish League leader Barcelona at FedEx Field in Washington D.C. Chelsea will also face French League leader Paris Saint-Germain at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, a rematch of the Champions League round of 16.
“These matchups speak to the immense success and quality of the International Champions Cup,” said Charlie Stillitano, Chairman of Relevent Sports. “Not only are three of the quarter-finalists for the Champions League participating, but the Chelsea vs. Paris Saint-Germain finish in the round of 16 was spectacular. Showcasing this rematch, along with the multitude of other high quality and competitive contests, is truly exciting and shows these games are more than just friendlies.”
Each team will play four contests 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 results from in-season Major League Soccer contests involving tournament participants will be used as part of official tournament scoring.
The ICC will be played across two continents, as games will be held at Stamford Bridge in London, Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence and multiple iconic venues throughout North America.
“The 2015 International Champions Cup North America will be an international affair,” said Matt Higgins, CEO of RSE Ventures. “Multiple matches in two continents with the best clubs in the world demonstrates the demand for our property both in the United States and abroad. We expect to see more fans, more excitement and more sell-outs than ever before.”
In total, 10 teams from around the globe, including England (Manchester United F.C., Chelsea F.C.), Portugal (FC Porto), France (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.), Mexico (Club América), Spain (Barcelona), Italy (ACF Fiorentina) and the United States (San Jose Earthquakes, Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls) will compete in the 2015 International Champions Cup North America Presented.
Following is a list of the schedule of the tournament:
- Saturday, July 11
o Club América vs. Los Angeles Galaxy – StubHub Center; Carson, California. 11:30 p.m. EST
- Tuesday, July 14
o Club América vs. San Jose Earthquakes – Avaya Stadium; San Jose, California. 10:30 p.m. EST
- Friday, July 17
o Club América vs. Manchester United F.C. – CenturyLink Field; Seattle, Washington. 11 p.m. EST
- Saturday, July 18
o FC Porto vs. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. – BMO Field; Toronto, Canada. 8:30 p.m. EST
- Tuesday, July 21
o Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Barcelona – Rose Bowl; Los Angeles, California. 11 p.m. EST
o Paris Saint-Germain F.C. vs. ACF Fiorentina – Red Bull Arena; Harrison, New Jersey. 8:30 p.m. EST
o Manchester United F.C. vs. San Jose Earthquakes – To Be Announced.
- Wednesday, July 22
o Chelsea F.C. vs. New York Red Bulls – Red Bull Arena; Harrison, New Jersey. 8 p.m. EST
- Friday, July 24
o ACF Fiorentina vs. FC Porto – Rentschler Field; Hartford, Connecticut. 8 p.m. EST
- Saturday July 25
o Manchester United F.C. vs. F.C. Barcelona – Levi’s Stadium; Santa Clara, California. 4 p.m. EST
o Paris Saint-Germain F.C. vs. Chelsea F.C. – Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, North Carolina. 6 p.m. EST
- Sunday, July 26
o FC Porto vs. New York Red Bulls – Red Bull Arena; Harrison, New Jersey. 7:30 p.m. EST
- Tuesday, July 28
o FC Barcelona vs. Chelsea F.C. – FedEx Field; Washington D.C. 8 p.m. EST
o Club América vs. FC Porto – Estadio Azteca; Mexico City, Mexico. 10 p.m. EST
- Wednesday, July 29
o Manchester United F.C. vs. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. – Solider Field; Chicago, Illinois. 9 p.m. EST
- Sunday, August 2
o ACF Fiorentina vs. FC Barcelona – Stadio Artemio Franchi; Florence, Italy. TBD
- Wednesday, August 5
o Chelsea F.C. vs. ACF Fiorentina – Stamford Bridge; London, England. 3 p.m. EST