With the rising popularity of the sport, the marketing opportunities present, a media-friendly environment, and plenty of good competition to choose from, the United States has long been a favorite destination for clubs looking to play summer tune-up friendlies before the beginning of their respective domestic seasons. The number of teams choosing to come to the US for these friendlies has even reached the point where local organizers have created tournaments to draw in the biggest club names. This has proven to be a success in past years, with European powerhouse like Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, and Bayern Munich making the US a regular stop on their summer schedules.
2014 is no exception, with 8 teams participating in the International Champions Cup (ICC) from July 24th to August 2nd. Matches will be played all throughout the country, giving fans everywhere an opportunity to come out and see the biggest names in football. The teams have been divided into 2 groups, with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and AS Roma making up Group A, and Liverpool, Manchester City, AC Milan, and Olympiacos making up Group B.
Group A Preview: Manchester United will be the team with the most to prove in this group, as they begin the process of rebuilding after a disastrous campaign last season under new leadership with Louis van Gaal fresh from having led the Netherlands to a 3rd-place finish in the World Cup. A strong squad has been named for the tour, allaying concerns that World Cup players were going to be given time to rest. Real Madrid will also be a team to watch, as Cristiano Ronaldo will be aiming to put another disappointing World Cup behind him. Inter Milan are also looking to begin the new season with a bang, as they finished 2013-14 empty-handed and, like United, failed to qualify for European competition. AS Roma finished a strong 2nd in Serie A last season, and have plenty of reason for optimism for the new season.
Group B Preview: Liverpool are now faced with life without Luis Suarez, and they will be looking to new signings Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, and Lazar Marković to make an impact. AC Milan will begin a new regime under former legend Filipo Inzaghi, and several new faces on the squad will be looking to make positive first impressions, chief among them Frenchman Jérémy Ménez. Olympiacos are perhaps the most unknown quantity here, but having finished last season as Greek Super League champions, and with several members of Greece’s World Cup squad on their roster to go with veterans like new signings Abidal and Kasami, they should not be overlooked. Manchester City have been emerging from the shadow of their more illustrious city rivals, and their 2nd Premiership title in 3 years has elevated them to the ranks of major contenders not just domestically, but in Europe as well.
The following is the full schedule for the ICC (all times Eastern):
Thursday, July 24
Olympiacos vs AC Milan, 8pm, BMO Field, Toronto
Saturday, July 26
Manchester United vs AS Roma, 4pm, Sports Authority Field, Denver (FOX)
Real Madrid vs Inter Milan, 6pm, Berkeley
Sunday, July 27
AC Milan vs. Manchester City, 4pm, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh (FOX Sports 1 and ESPN Deportes)
Liverpool vs Olympiacos, 6pm, Soldier Field, Chicago (FOX Sports 1 and ESPN Deportes)
Tuesday, July 29
Manchester United vs Inter Milan, 7pm, FedEx Field, Washington DC (NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra)
Real Madrid vs AS Roma, 9:15pm, Cotton Bowl, Dallas
Wednesday, July 30
Liverpool vs Manchester City, 7pm, Yankee Stadium, New York City (FOX Sports 1)
Saturday, August 2
Real Madrid vs Manchester United, 4pm, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor (FOX)
Inter Milan vs AS Roma, 1pm, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Olympiacos vs Manchester City, 3pm, TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis (FOX Sports 2)
Liverpool vs AC Milan, 6:30pm, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte (NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra)
Monday, August 4
TBD vs TBD, International Champions Cup Final, Sun Life Stadium, Miami (FOX Sports 1)
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Besides the ICC, there will be many other friendly matches will also be taking place around the country. More than 25 such fixtures featuring teams from all around Europe and including some teams from the MLS and Americas will be taking place all around the country, from major cities like Los Angeles and Dallas to smaller communities like Chester, PA, Blaine, MN, and Richmond, VA. The schedule is as follows, including TV information where available:
Wednesday, July 16
Chivas de Guadalajara vs Swansea City, time TBD, Miller Park, Milwaukee
Saturday, July 19
Seattle Sounders vs Tottenham Hotspur, CenturyLink Field, Seattle (ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes)
Minnesota United vs Swansea City, Blaine
Sacramento Republic vs Rangers
Monday, July 21
Victoria Highlanders vs Rangers, time TBD, venue TBD
Sacramento Republic vs West Bromwich Albion, time TBD, Bonney Field, Sacramento
Wednesday, July 23
Liverpool vs AS Roma, Fenway Park, Boston (NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra)
Sporting Kansas City vs Manchester City, Sporting KC Stadium, Kansas City (ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes)
FC Dallas vs Aston Villa, Toyota Stadium, Dallas
LA Galaxy vs Manchester United, Rose Bowl, Los Angeles (FOX Sports 1)
AS Monaco vs Atletico Nacional, Miami
Toronto FC vs Tottenham Hotspur, 7pm, BMO Field (ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes)
Columbus Crew vs Crystal Palace, Crew Stadium
Ottawa Fury vs Rangers, time TBD, venue TBD
Friday, July 25
Philadelphia Union vs Crystal Palace, PPL Park, Chester, PA
Sacramento Republic vs West Bromwich Albion, time TBD, Bonney Field, Sacramento
Saturday, July 26
New York Red Bulls vs Arsenal, Red Bull Arena, Harrison (ESPN2)
DC United vs Fulham, EverBank Field, Jacksonville
Houston Dynamo vs Aston Villa, BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston
Chicago Fire vs Tottenham Hotspur, Toyota Park, Chicago (ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes)
Sunday, July 27
San Jose Earthquakes vs Atletico Madrid, 4pm, Candlestick Park, San Francisco
Sunday, July 28
Richmond Kickers vs Crystal Palace, City Stadium, Richmond
Thursday, July 31
Bayern Munich vs Chivas de Guadalajara, time TBD, Red Bull Arena, Harrison
Wednesday, August 6
MLS All-Star team vs Bayern Munich, 9:30pm, Providence Park, Portland (ESPN2, UniMás and Univision Deportes)
Wednesday, September 5
Brazil vs Colombia, time TBD, Sun Life Stadium, Miami
Sunday, September 9
Brazil vs. Ecuador, time TBD, Met Life Stadium, East Rutherford
Thursday, September 11
Real Madrid legends vs Barcelona legends, Marlins Park, Miami
Spreading out matches like these all around the country and not restricting them to major metropolitan areas is a great way to continue to grow the popularity of the sport in the US. It also provides exposure on a big stage for teams that American fans may not necessarily be familiar with. With these friendlies and the ongoing MLS schedule, US-based football fans have really never had it better.
(Image credits: internationalchampionscup.com)