MIAMI (March 10, 2017) – Relevent Sports announced today that defending La Liga champion FC Barcelona and defending UEFA Champions League winner Real Madrid C.F. will meet on July 29, 2017 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., as part of the 2017 International Champions Cup. 

El Clásico Miami will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 7:30PM ET. 

The International Champions Cup was launched by Stephen Ross and Matt Higgins in 2013 with the creation of Relevent Sports, led by Charlie Stillitano and Jon Sheiman. El Clásico Miami will mark the first-ever match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid C.F. to take place in North America. Hailed as one of sport's all-time greatest rivalries, the current rosters for each club feature some of the best players in the world. Real Madrid C.F. is anchored by recently crowned FIFA Men’s Player of the Year and Ballon D’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside Welsh superstar Gareth Bale, while perennial world-class Argentinean national, Lionel Messi, and famed Brazilian Neymar lead FC Barcelona.

“I am thrilled to bring the International Champions Cup back to the city of Miami,” said Stephen Ross, RSE Ventures chairman and co-founder and Miami Dolphins owner. “The opportunity to showcase two of the most storied clubs in the history of the sport is why we created this tournament. That it will take place at Hard Rock Stadium is a testament to the recent transformation of this venue into a global entertainment destination.”

Real Madrid C.F. and FC Barcelona both return to the ICC with the goal of adding another title to their already world-class resumes. Real Madrid C.F. will be making a record fifth appearance in the ICC, having played in every year of the tournament’s history. Real Madrid C.F. returns to Miami for a second time as part of the ICC after defeating Chelsea F.C. to win the inaugural tournament in 2013 in front of a crowd of 67,273 attendees, one of the largest for a soccer match in the venue’s history. They also were crowned champions of the first-ever ICC China and ICC Australia which took place in 2015. 

FC Barcelona makes its third appearance in the ICC after appearing in both the 2015 and 2016 tournaments. Their 2016 tournament included two wins and a finale highlighted by the second largest crowd in Wembley Stadium history (89,845) to watch them take on Liverpool F.C.

El Clásico Miami will be held at the newly renovated Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., the first soccer event to take place since the stadium’s latest renovations. Hard Rock Stadium returns as a venue for the ICC after hosting the championship match in each of the first two years of the tournament. The renovations to Hard Rock Stadium have made it possible to host the highest caliber of soccer competition while serving as the home of the Miami Dolphins. Hard Rock Stadium will host an additional match on Wednesday, July 26 as part of the 2017 International Champions Cup presented by Heineken. Further details will be announced on March 21.

As part of this momentous event, the ICC and El Clásico Miami management team will develop a program of exciting events leading up to the match including concerts, brand activations, team pep rallies, art activations, and more which will be hosted in and around Hard Rock Stadium as part of an immersive experience site that will be available to fans from Tuesday to Sunday. Additionally, El Clásico Miami week will provide an opportunity for fans to experience the culture of Miami by creating events around Miami Beach, Wynwood and Bayfront Park. The week will be filled with concerts, beach parties and art activations that create a spectacle of events around the match. 

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Since launching in 2013, the ICC has hosted matchups at some of the most renowned venues across the world including Michigan Stadium, the Rose Bowl, Yankee Stadium, Stamford Bridge, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Wembley Stadium. The ICC has featured teams from the world’s most renowned soccer leagues including the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga and German Bundesliga.

In 2015, the ICC expanded to include tournaments in both Australia and China. It has featured matches in Melbourne, Beijing, and Shanghai over the past two years. Overall, the ICC has hosted matches in more than 30 cities, 11 countries and four continents. 

 Relevent Sports will reveal the entire lineup of world-class teams, venues and matchups for the 2017 tournament at a national launch event in New York City on Tuesday, March 21.

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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 matchups and tournaments in soccer featuring the top clubs, international teams and players. In addition to hosting the International Champions Cup annually every summer, Relevent Sports works closely with national teams including Brazil, Argentina and Portugal to host exhibition matches in major sports venues throughout the year. Utilizing brand development, grassroots planning, corporate sponsors, international touring and philanthropic initiatives, Relevent Sports promotes and grows the love of soccer worldwide.

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