Sports Media Report
ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPNU and ESPNEWS will combine to cover the 2018 International Champions Cup (ICC) presented by Heineken July 20-August 12. The series of 27 international club soccer matches between 18 championship teams will be played in eight countries across North America, Europe and Asia over a three-week period.
In addition, ESPN2 and the ESPN App (in Spanish) will televise the first Women’s International Champions Cup Final event on Sunday, July 29, at 9 p.m. ET, from Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The Women’s ICC Final will culminate a four-match series (semifinals, third-place and final) between four teams.
The ICC begins Friday, July 20 with Spain’s La Liga club Sevilla vs. Portuguese Premeira Liga’s Benfica, live from Letzigrund, Switzerland, at 2 p.m., on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. It concludes on Sunday, Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. with Atletico Madrid hosting Inter Milan at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The five-year-old international soccer showcase will feature all eight teams – AS Roma, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Sevilla – in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
The 2018 ICC features highly anticipated matchups in international club football. Highlights:
- Wednesday, July 25 – Manchester City vs. Liverpool FC: A preseason rematch of the 2017-2018 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal round matchup between the two teams on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes
- Saturday, July 28 – Manchester United vs. Liverpool FC (North West Derby): Two of English football’s most successful teams renew their rivalry at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., on ESPN, ESPN Deportes
- Sun, July 29 – Women’s ICC Final: ESPN2 and the ESPN App (in Spanish) will present the inaugural Women’s ICC Final. Participating teams: Manchester City, Paris St. Germain, National Women’s Soccer League’s North Carolina Courage, and a fourth team to be confirmed
- Saturday, August 4 – Arsenal vs. Chelsea: London’s two most-successful teams will kickoff the 2018-2019 football season with a pre-season matchup at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes
- Saturday, August 4 – Real Madrid vs. Juventus: UEFA Champions League titleholders Real Madrid face Juventus, Italian Serie A champions for six straight years, in a rematch of their 2017-2018 Champions League quarterfinal round matchup on ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes.
This marks the third year in a row ICC matches will be on ESPN, the ICC’s exclusive media partner in the United States. Last year, the company televised 19 matches capped by a special El Clásico Miami onJuly 29 – the first-ever meeting in North America between Spain’s powerhouse teams Barcelona and Real Madrid.
