SAN JOSE, Calif. – Relevent Sports, a division of RSE Ventures, announced today that Spanish giants Real Madrid and English powerhouse Manchester United will meet on Sunday, July 23 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California as part of the 2017 International Champions Cup presented by Heineken. The match will kickoff at 2:00 p.m. PT and be aired on ESPN.
- Earthquakes Season Ticket Holders (purchased before March 28) are eligible for a special pre-sale for the match. Click here to learn more about Earthquakes Season Tickets.
- TICKETS: April 8 we induct Joe Cannon into the Earthquakes Hall of Fame
“The Bay Area continues to draw world-class soccer events,” said Earthquakes President Dave Kaval. “With major clubs such as Manchester United returning year after year, it is a testament to the passionate fan base and the top-notch facilities we can provide.”
Real Madrid and Manchester United are both poised for success in their current campaigns, with recent domestic triumphs extending to their international competitions. With a plethora of multinational superstars, Real Madrid sits atop La Liga with their sights set on adding to their record 32 league titles. Led by FIFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo and Welsh phenomenon Gareth Bale, Real Madrid has advanced to the knockout stage of the 2017 Champions League in hopes of retaining their title. Perennial power Manchester United is led by Zlatan Ibrahimović, the team’s top goal-scorer, and English legend Wayne Rooney.
As the home of the 5-time Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers, Levi’s Stadium sits near one of America’s greatest sports cities. Opened in 2014, Levi’s Stadium was chosen as the site of Super Bowl 50 and has already played host to two ICC matches. The stadium has been named Venue of the Year, by The Stadium Business Awards and Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal while proving to be a leader in stadium technology.
Tickets for the Real Madrid v. Manchester United matchup at Levi’s Stadium will go on sale to the general public beginning Tuesday, April 4. Fans can find all venue-specific and other ticket information at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
“Last year we saw a clash of giants when Liverpool defeated AC Milan in front of a sellout crowd here at Levi’s Stadium,” said Charlie Stillitano, Chairman at Relevent Sports. “The battle between famed English and Spanish clubs continues again this year when Manchester United matches up against reigning Champions League titleholders Real Madrid. Both teams field exceptional rosters full of world-class talent and are managed by two of the best in Mourinho and Zidane. The ICC is thrilled to return for a third consecutive year to Levi’s Stadium and the Bay Area where the growth and passion for soccer is unparalleled.”
“To have Relevent Sports bring the International Champions Cup back to Levi’s Stadium for a third year in-a-row is a real testament to the fans in the Bay Area and their support of international soccer,” said 49ers President Al Guido. “In partnership with the Earthquakes, we look forward to Manchester United and Real Madrid kicking off an amazing week of soccer in Santa Clara that will culminate with the finale of the 2017 Gold Cup on July 26.”
The 2017 International Champions Cup presented by Heineken will run from July 19 – 30 and feature 12 matches played across 11 cities throughout the United States. In total, eight teams from around the globe, including England (Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur), Italy (Juventus, AS Roma), France (Paris Saint-Germain) and Spain (FC Barcelona, Real Madrid) will compete in this year’s tournament. Each team will play three 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.
Arguably the most recognizable soccer club in the world, Manchester United is frequently mentioned among the most successful teams in English league soccer and has been home to some of the game’s greats including Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law. The club is also incredibly successful off the field, having become the first sports franchise to be valued at over $3 billion, according to Forbes. The record 20-time league title winners have dominated English soccer for much of the last 25 years. During that time, some of the biggest names in soccer, including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, have pulled on the famous red shirt and run out on Old Trafford's hallowed turf. All of the aforementioned names played under the greatest manager soccer has ever known: Sir Alex Ferguson. He took charge of Manchester United in November 1986, before retiring in May 2013 with a record 13 English soccer league titles. The club is currently managed by José Mourinho, who took over the reins in May of 2016. This year’s squad features star veteran strikers Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimović, along with young superstar midfielder Paul Pogba. For more information on Manchester United, please visit www.manutd.com.
Founded in 1902, Real Madrid hold the record for most European cup/UEFA Champions League championships in any club’s history - a staggering total of 11 titles, its most recent arriving in the 2015-2016 season. In addition, the Royal Whites have won a record 32 La Liga titles, while winning the domestic cup 19 times. Los Blancos currently field a roster featuring some of the best players in the world including Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Gareth Bale (Wales), Karim Benzema (France) as well as home-grown Spanish talent like Isco and captain Sergio Ramos. Led by former Real Madrid midfielder, French soccer legend and current manager Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid returns to the International Champions Cup for the fifth consecutive year, having won each of the inaugural tournaments to take place in the United States, Australia and China. For more information on Real Madrid, please visit www.realmadrid.com.
For the second consecutive year, Heineken is the presenting sponsor of the 2017 International Champions Cup. In addition to Heineken, the 2017 tournament features a leading line-up of sponsors, including Visit Orlando, Ally, Nike, Chevrolet, AON, Groupon, VividSeats, Gatorade and Xyience. Additional partners will be announced in the coming months. All matches for the International Champions Cup will be carried on ESPN networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and streaming network ESPN3, accessible through WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
Fans can follow the ICC on social media at @intchampionscup for exclusive content and announcements, and join the conversation using #2017ICC. Fans can sign up for up news, updates and ticket information at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
About Relevent Sports
Relevent Sports provides an innovative approach to building a soccer presence in the United States and around the globe. Relevent Sports showcases the best match-ups and tournaments in soccer featuring the top clubs, international teams and players. Since 2013, Relevent Sports has organized the International Champions Cup; the premier preseason tournament featuring the top European clubs with matches in North America, Europe and Asia. Utilizing brand development, grassroots planning, corporate sponsors, international touring and philanthropic initiatives, Relevent Sports promotes and grows the love of soccer worldwide.
About the International Champions Cup
The International Champions Cup is the world’s premier summer soccer tournament organized by Relevent Sports, featuring the best clubs from around the world. A staple property of Relevent Sports and RSE Ventures, the International Champions Cup works with leading sponsors such as Heineken, Nike, Visit Orlando, and Ally, among others, to bring the best in soccer to iconic sports venues across North America, Europe and China.
The International Champions Cup has hosted some of the most iconic matchups in the world, including the two most attended soccer matches in U.S. history. First came when Real Madrid and Manchester United drew 109,318 fans to Michigan Stadium at the University of Michigan. Real Madrid returned to the “Big House” to take on Chelsea in front of 105,826 fans, second all-time, as part of the 2016 tournament. The International Champions Cup also has hosted the most attended soccer matches in Minnesota (64,101 at U.S. Bank Stadium) and Ohio (86,641 at Ohio Stadium) state history. In its four-year history, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have all won installments of the tournament.
