The International Champions Cup (ICC) soccer tournament has "evolved into the most prominent preseason tournament in the world," and games such as Sunday's Real Madrid-Manchester United match at Levi's Stadium are a "way to cash in on the massive and continually growing popularity of soccer with an American audience," according to Ann Killion of the S.F. CHRONICLE. There is "no pretense as to the ultimate goal" of the event. Relevent Sports Chair Charlie Stillitano, whose group runs the event, said the tournament is the "perfect marriage of football and commerce." The ICC this year also includes "fierce rivals" Real Madrid and FC Barcelona playing at Hard Rock Stadium on July 29, while Manchester United and Manchester City "played Thursday in Houston." Though some players and managers in the past have "complained about the long travel distances, the heat and other hurdles" of the trip to the U.S., they also "know it’s an opportunity to build their individual brands" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/21). USA TODAY's Martin Rogers noted the ICC is "less a tournament and more a convenient way to market a group of preseason matches." The problem is that these games "often feature lineups packed with back-up players and are sometimes played with limited intensity, to the annoyance of supporters clamoring for the real thing." However, EPL Tottenham Hotspur MF Dele Alli said, "We know we are going out there to play in front of fans who don’t normally get the chance to see us in London. That’s important. We take the responsibility seriously to go out and put on a good performance and for us we want to build good habits and win as many games as possible” (USA TODAY, 7/19).
DERBY DAYS: In Houston, Corey Roepken reports Manchester United's 2-0 ICC win over Manchester City drew 67,401 fans to NRG Stadium for the first Manchester Derby to be "played outside of England" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/21). The stadium was "humming ... with the sounds of one of soccer's most iconic rivalries" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/21).
MEXICAN GOLD: In Phoenix, Greg Moore reports around 37,000 fans were at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium on Thursday night for a CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader featuring Jamaica-Canada and Mexico-Honduras. There were "huge sections of empty seats" for the first match, but the stands for the nightcap "were as green as the pitch, with Mexico fans showing their colors, wearing sombreros and waving flags" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/21).
