NEW YORK – FC Barcelona announced that the entire first team, including Lionel Messi, will travel with the club to the United States for the inaugural LaLiga-Serie A Cup against Napoli. Messi will join Griezmann, Suarez, Coutinho, De Jong and the rest of the star-studded cast for a two-game series against Napoli, August 7th at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL and August 10th at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Lionel MessiFC Barcelona will be traveling to South Florida after playing the Gamper Trophy in Barcelona, where they will be unveiling the 2019 first team to tens of thousands of fans at Camp Nou Stadium. Both clubs have confirmed that they will debut their first teams internationally in the LaLiga-Serie A Cup.
Barcelona and SSC Napoli are two of the most successful franchises in their respective leagues. A 26-time LaLiga and five-time UEFA Champions League champions, FC Barcelona holds the league record for the most Copa del Rey (30) and Supercopa de Espana (13) titles, as well as European records for the most UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (4) and UEFA Super Cup (5) wins.
SSC Napoli is recognized internationally as one of the most successful Italian clubs, having won two league titles, five CoppaItalias, two SupercoppaItaliana titles, and one UEFA Cup. The club placed second overall in the league this year. This will be SSC Napoli’s first trip to the United States in 30 years.
The two teams will play matches in two iconic venues in the United States, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on August 7, and at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on August 10. Hard Rock Stadium holds the record for the largest crowd for a soccer match in Florida in 2015 and held the first El Clasico in the US in 2017. Michigan Stadium holds the record for the largest US crowd in soccer history (109,318 fans, Manchester United vs. Real Madrid in 2014).
Tickets are available at https://www.releventsportsgroup.com/en/events
Video Assets:
Miami https://www.dropbox.com/s/nz91jzs0z2cz6m3/SOC091_Messi%20QH%20v3.mp4?dl=0
Michigan https://www.dropbox.com/s/m0l3xb8r8g6pqkz/SOC091_Messi%20QH%20Michigan%20v1.mp4?dl=0
Apply for credentials at https://internationalchampionscup2019.pvitl.com/registration/media_accreditation_form
ABOUT RELEVENT SPORTS GROUP
Relevent Sports Group (RSG) is the premier soccer events and media business in North America and Asia. RSG operates the International Champions Cup, the summer’s largest club tournament featuring the world’s best teams in iconic venues. Regarded as one of the most influential privately-owned soccer companies internationally, RSG is focused on expanding its footprint, creating a year-round soccer platform including new properties, the Women’s ICC and Futures tournament, Alianza de Futbol, the leading marketer and producer of Hispanic soccer programs in the U.S, and the first-of-its-kind joint venture with LaLiga to promote soccer in North America.
ABOUT HARD ROCK STADIUM
Hard Rock Stadium is a global entertainment destination that serves as home to the Miami Dolphins, the Miami Open, University of Miami football, Orange Bowl, Super Bowl LIV and the 100th season of the NFL, 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship, major concerts, international soccer matches and a host of world-class events. The facility completed a $550 million, multi-year renovation privately funded by Managing General Partner & Chairman of the Board Stephen Ross to transform the iconic venue into the best Miami has to offer in world class fare, art, culture and an elevated guest experience.
ABOUT MICHIGAN STADIUM
One of the country's most iconic, widely recognized sporting facilities, Michigan Stadium has come to symbolize the pride, tradition and excellence of the University of Michigan. There is truly no place like it on a fall Saturday afternoon. The largest football stadium in America, Michigan Stadium was constructed in 1927 and seats 107,601 fans. The stadium has seen 286 consecutive sellouts for Michigan football games through the 2018 season and has hosted numerous other large-scale events.
