The Guinness International Champions Cup, a preseason soccer tournament beginning in Spain on July 27, will draw to a close at Sun Life Stadium on August 6 and 7.
The stadium will host four games and between eight teams from Italy, Spain, England and the United States as they compete in final consolation and championship rounds.
This announcement comes weeks after Florida lawmakers failed to take up Dolphins-backed legislation that would have allocated tax dollars for some of the proposed $350 million in stadium renovations.
South Florida lost out on 2016 and 2017 Super Bowl bids because improvement plans failed to move forward. Potential college football and major soccer events were also major talking points in the process.
But this summer’s soccer tournament offers hope that South Florida’s future with international soccer may just be getting started, never mind failed renovation efforts.
“The four games over two days will not only highlight the world-class level of the sport, the continued growth and passion for soccer in the United States, but also Miami’s thriving food, arts and music scene with a two-day fan festival,” read the announcement.
Matt Higgins, CEO of a company co-founded by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, believes the tournament will set the “gold standard” for soccer events in United States. The tournament features highly successful international and domestic teams:
- Real Madrid
- A.C. Milan
- Chelsea
- Valencia
- Everton
- Inter Milan
- Juventus
- LA Galaxy
Lynda Bell, the newly appointed Chairperson of the Miami-Dade County Sports Commission, is excited about the event because it will stimulate the local economy.
“I applaud Stephen Ross and the Dolphins organization for leading the charge in attracting world class events to Miami-Dade County,” said Bell.