U.S. Clásico shelved as International Champions Cup is officially cancelled
The hotly anticipated fixture between Real Madrid and Barcelona, which was set to take place in Las Vegas, will not go ahead as the International Champions Cup has been officially cancelled.
Yet another sporting event falls victim to coronavirus, as this summer’s International Champions Cup (ICC), which was once again set to bring together some of Europe’s top clubs for a pre-season tournament held in the US and across Asia, has been officially cancelled.
Organisers of the ICC, Relevent Sports Group, confirmed the cancellation of the 2020 edition of the tournament in a statement on its Twitter, in which it cited the implausibility of hosting the competition this summer, when it is likely that the currently suspended league championships across Europe will eventually be played out after a long hiatus due to the coronavirus crisis.
Statement on International Champions Cup cancellation
“The health and safety of players, staff, fans, and all who are involved in our matches is always paramount,” said Relevent Sports Group in its statement.
“The lack of clarity of when social distancing and shelter-in-place restrictions will be lifted and the uncertain international football calendar, with the potential for European domestic leagues and UEFA tournaments being played out into August, means planning a Men’s International Champions Cup this summer is unfeasible.
“We look forward to bringing the best clubs and most iconic matchups in the world to the US and Asia in 2021.”
No Clásico in Vegas as ICC is cancelled
The cancellation of the tournament means there will not be a Stateside Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona this summer, as had been hotly anticipated.
The Clásico fixture under the ICC calendar had yet to be officially confirmed, though talks were already well underway which would have seen Madrid face Barça at the newly built Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the new home of the Raiders NFL franchise.
It would have been the second US-held meeting between Madrid and Barcelona, after Miami hosted a match between LaLiga’s fiercest rivals in the summer of 2017. Fans in the U.S. will no doubt be hoping that Madrid, Barça and the ICC organisers can come to an arrangement to have the now-shelved Clásico fixture take place in 2021 instead.