By DAN KARELL
San Francisco, Indianapolis, and Phoenix will host first round matches in the International Champions Cup.
Relevant Sports and Entertainment announced on Tuesday the schedule, venues, and bracket of the inaugural tournament, that will feature seven European sides and one Major League Soccer club playing matches in the United States and Europe between July 27 and August 7.
The first round will begin with La Liga side Valencia hosting AC Milan in Spain, followed by Everton playing Juventus in San Francisco, Real Madrid playing the Los Angeles Galaxy in Phoenix, and Chelsea facing Inter Milan in Indianapolis.
The next round of matches will take place in New York and Los Angeles, before the finals commence in Miami.
Here is a closer look at the ICC schedule:
First Round
July 27 – Valencia, Spain – Valencia vs. AC Milan
July 31 – San Francisco – Everton vs. Juventus
August 1 – Phoenix – Real Madrid vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
August 1 – Indianapolis – Chelsea vs. Inter Milan
Second Round
August 3 – Los Angeles – Everton/Juventus winner vs. Real Madrid/LA Galaxy winner
August 3 – Los Angeles – Everton/Juventus loser vs. Real Madrid/LA Galaxy loser
August 4 – New York – Valencia/Milan winner vs. Chelsea/Inter Milan winner
August 4 – New York – Valencia/Milan loser vs. Chelsea/Inter Milan loser
Championship Round
August 6 – Miami – Seventh Place Match
August 6 – Miami – Fifth Place Match
August 7 – Miami – Third Place Match
August 7 – Miami – Championship Match
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What do you make of the news? Do you plan on attending any of the matches? Do you see teams taking the tournament seriously?
Share your thoughts below.
I get to see my cousin play in America. Welcome to the USA JAVI!!
It will be hot though!
Once in lifetime…
No visits to Reliant Stadium, nor Cowboys Stadium? They must hate money.
I can’t hardly imagine the excitement and earnest that will surround the 7th place and 5th place games. Boy, if the first two exhibition games didn’t rally the players, those sure will.
Seriously, if you’re going to try and fabricate a “tournament,” at least give some feeling of credibility by not having transparently pointless ticket-sale-events like that.
So here’s the Galaxy schedule…
07/31 – MLS All-Star game – KC (for some players)
08/01 – vs Real Madrid – Phx
08/03 – vs ??? in LA (assuming they lose in PHX)
08/06 – vs ??? in Mia (assuming they lose again)
3 or 4 meaningless games in one week? What a great tune-up for an important road game against Dallas on 08/11. Can’t wait to hear Bruce run his mouth about this schedule.
Predictions for who the Galaxy will be playing in the 7th place match on August 6th?
real madrid!
Inter
whats more profitable for European teams?
pre season in USA or in Asia?
Probably is about the same or at least it is worth toggling between the two tour locations to keep up the brand and the jersey sales.
Indianapolis? Whose going to go to that?
Me and 67,000 of my friends…
ME!!!! Indiana is actually a strong soccer state and Indianapolis is a good soccer city!!
I’ll be there, dips–t. You do realize Indianapolis is a pretty large city, right?
People who live in Indianapolis, plus people from places like Chicago, St. Louis, Cinci, Columbus, and Louisville who are all within 2-4 hours of driving. There’s a reason the NCAA and others stage a ton of big events in Indianapolis.
Doubt that I live in Chicago and am not about to travel to Indy for a friendly and don’t know many who would it not THAT close
The Indy game will sell out, trust me, also our NASL team will probably average more fans than the Bridgeview Fire do next year as well…
Just what the Galaxy need, pointless friendlies in the middle of our season…
Pointless?! With a little bit of luck they can have all the prestige that comes with being crowned “International Champions Cup Champions”.
The I.C.U.P?
why not have 8 of the best teams in the world
Man U, AC Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund
that would make a great tournament.
That’s called the Champions League haha
Nice.
It does demand the question, though. I’m not sure what Valencia, Everton, or Milan are champions of at the moment.
I’m quite sure the teams have a say in it. Surely the tournament owners have no power of conscription. Maybe, just maybe, all of those teams don’t want to play in a meaningless series of exhibition games on their short break.
I’ll be paying attention to the 18 MLS matches that take place between July 27 and Aug 7.
of all places in LA…Dodger stadium!?
Interesting seeing mls teams playing outside their hoods.. LA play in Pheonix, Colorado is playing Santos Laguna in ABQ, im sure there are others…
August in Miami, ugh. Either hot & humid or a tropical storm. Not good conditions for fans or players.
August 1, Phoenix – Real Madrid vs. Los Angeles Galaxy. Wonder what the temp at game time will be. Who is the brain donor that chose that location?
They play indoors….assuming it is at Univ of Phx stadium.
The stadium in Arizona has a retractable roof. The temperature will be an Air Conditioned 72 degrees.
You might need the brain donor though.
Thanks, buddy.
Yeah not getting the venues given the time of year.
Assuming they’re playing at University of Phoenix Stadium (where the Cardinals play), there’s a retractable roof so I imagine they’ll be playing in a temperature-controlled environment…
Lol AC stadiums.. Only in Arizona… And Qatar…
Ya some odd stadiums here
The people in AZ had the sense to have a roof that they can close to keep the heat out when the have the AC on.
The Qatari’s have their magic system where they need no roof, but it stays cool with AC.
Wasn’t there talk of an ‘artificial cloud’ technology being used…..which doesn’t even exist yet?
The stadium in Phoenix is inside, buddy
Thanks, buddy
Real grass, too! (the field also retracts)
get a new handle. this one is taken.
Is the Bruce labeling this as a nuisance for the Galaxy, or will he take it seriously? Would want to see the Galaxy represent well in this ridiculously talented field.
not planning on going in person, ticket prices are too inflated.
I’ll be attending the one match in Valencia. Shame they didn’t have more games there for this very American tournament.