EUROPE’S TOP CLUBS SET FOR PRESEASON GALA
It is not easy to make a tournament out of 18 teams that each wants to play no more than three games and wants to know exactly who they will be playing and when.
That was the challenge facing organizers of the International Champions Cup, a preseason tournament featuring most of the elite names in European soccer and taking place primarily in the USA, with 17 games over 19 days to be hosted on American soil, starting Friday.
However, the event has hit upon a format that will ultimately crown a winner, as well as fulfilling its primary objective of giving soccer’s elite clubs high-level preparation for their upcoming campaigns.
For American fans looking to get a glimpse of the stars they typically see on television, either in the World Cup or during the regular European season, there is plenty to like.
How does it work?
Each of the 18 teams will play three games each. If any game ends in a tie, it goes to an immediate penalty shootout, with no extra time. Three points are awarded for a win, two for a win on penalties, one for a shootout defeat and none for a loss.
The title goes to the team with the most points accumulated in three games.
With the English Premier League and the German Bundesliga starting earlier than Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A, the English and German teams will be featured earlier in the tournament.
Who will be playing?
History suggests the lineups will resemble something closely approaching full strength, with a few opportunities opened up for younger players looking to make their mark. The World Cup has added an extra wrinkle, with most teams giving players three weeks off since their final World Cup game, naturally having the most effect on players whose national squads went deep in Russia.
Is it really the ‘Champions’ Cup?
It really is. The Champions League winner, Real Madrid, will be here. The same with EPL winner Manchester City. Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga, Barcelona of La Liga and Juventus, which clinched a seventh consecutive Italian title. Europa League champion Atletico Madrid and French Ligue 1 winner Paris St. Germain are also involved in the European side of the ICC.
When and where are the games?
(Times Eastern) Friday, 9 p.m.: Manchester City vs. Borussia Dortmund, Soldier Field, Chicago The EPL champs kick off the ICC against American star Christian Pulisic’s Dortmund. Sunday, 4 p.m.: Liverpool vs. Borussia Dortmund, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina The Jurgen Klopp Bowl, as the Liverpool coach takes on his former team. Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Juventus vs. Bayern Munich, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia The dominant champions of Italy and Germany square off. Wednesday, 8 p.m.: Borussia Dortmund vs. Benfica, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh Dortmund ends its American adventure before heading home to finalize its preseason. Wednesday, 8 p.m.: Manchester City vs. Liverpool, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey Mohamed Salah will seek to continue his dramatic rise. Wednesday, 10 p.m.: Roma vs. Tottenham, SDCCU Stadium, San Diego Both teams have big designs on challenging for their respective titles next season. Wednesday, 11 p.m., AC Milan vs. Manchester United, StubHub Center, Carson, California Two of David Beckham’s former teams play at the home of a third. July 28, 1 p.m.: Benfica vs. Juventus, Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey Ronaldo’s arrival has made Juventus the most talked about club in soccer. July 28, 5 p.m.: Manchester United vs. Liverpool, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan Two iconic teams synonymous with the color red duke it out at the historically blue Big House. July 28, 7 p.m.: Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida Last chance to see the Bundesliga and EPL champs before they begin their title defenses. July 28, 11 p.m.: Barcelona vs. Tottenham, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California With Ronaldo gone, Lionel Messi is now La Liga’s undisputed top dog. July 31, 8 p.m.: Manchester United vs. Real Madrid, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens The world’s two biggest soccer brands, plus Jose Mourinho taking on his former team. July 31, 8:30 p.m.: Tottenham vs. AC Milan, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis Could NFL fan Harry Kane return to play at the site of the most recent Super Bowl? July 31, 10 p.m.: Barcelona vs. Roma, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas Rematch of the stunning Champions League quarterfinal, won by Roma in a thrilling comeback. Aug. 4, 6 p.m.: Real Madrid vs. Juventus, FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland Ronaldo might still be resting, but he’ll be keeping a close eye on this one. Aug. 4, 8 p.m.: AC Milan vs. Barcelona, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California Last tuneup for both European giants with the Serie A and La Liga campaigns fast approaching. Aug. 7, 8 p.m.: Real Madrid v. Roma, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford Can Madrid maintain its Champions League dominance?