European soccer giants Chelsea F.C. and Paris Saint-Germain F.C. will face off at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, July 25 at 6 p.m. ET as part of the 2015 International Champions Cup North America Presented by Guinness Beer.
Last year, Liverpool FC defeated A.C. Milan 2-0 in front of a sold-out crowd of 69,364. The match was an incredible success, generating more than $16 million in economic impact for the City of Charlotte. After hosting the immensely popular match in 2014, bringing another premier international soccer game to the city was a natural fit.
"As we saw with last year's Champions Cup, we know that international soccer and Charlotte are a perfect match," said Tom Murray, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority CEO. "We're looking forward to bringing another incredible event to Bank of America Stadium this summer that demonstrates our community's passion for the sport while generating millions in economic impact and providing valuable international exposure for the region."
Exclusive presale tickets for the Chelsea F.C. and Paris Saint-Germain F.C. match will begin May 4 at 10 a.m. ET, and general ticket sales will be available May 7 at 10 a.m. ET. Fans can sign up to access the presale, and general ticket information is available at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
"We are incredibly excited to play an International Champions Cup match in Charlotte for the second consecutive year," said Charlie Stillitano, chairman of Relevent Sports. "Last year's Liverpool versus A.C. Milan contest demonstrated the thirst for soccer in the area, so we wanted to bring another excellent matchup to Charlotte. Both Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are two of the most well-known and respected clubs in the world, and their Champions League Round of 16 finish was fantastic. The rematch promises to be one of the best games of the tournament."
The 2015 International Champions Cup North America will run from July 11-Aug. 5 and feature 17 matches played across 12 regions throughout the world. Each team will play four contests, and the club with the most points at the end of the tournament will be crowned champion.
Ten teams from across the globe, including England (Manchester United F.C., Chelsea F.C.), Portugal (FC Porto), France (Paris Saint-Germain), Mexico (Club América), Spain (Barcelona), Italy (ACF Fiorentina) and the United States (San Jose Earthquakes, Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls) will compete in the 2015 International Champions Cup North America.
Nicknamed The Blues, Chelsea Football Club consistently ranks among the best soccer clubs in the world. The first club to ever hold both the Champions League and Europa League titles at the same time, Chelsea's iconic position as a central point of England's premiership continues to challenge the international soccer world.
"This is sure to be a fantastic match between two of the best teams in Europe," said Carlos Cudicini, former Chelsea goalkeeper and team ambassador. "Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain played two closely fought ties in the Champions League in the past two years, and I am sure the match in Charlotte will be an equally exciting game."
Paris Saint-Germain has re-established its position as one of the top teams in the world in recent seasons. Founded in 1970, the club is one of the most successful in French history, having won eight French Cups and Ligue 1 four times, including back-to-back wins in 2013 and 2014.
"We are very pleased to have Paris Saint-Germain participate for the first time in the prestigious International Champions Cup. We look forward to meet on the pitch some of the best teams in Europe and show the public the PSG style of play," said Nasser Al Khelaifi, Chairman and CEO Paris Saint Germain.
