Football
ESPN staff 7y

Barcelona and Real Madrid to play first Clasico in U.S. in Miami as part of ICC

The first Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid to be played on U.S. soil is set for July 29 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami as part of the International Champions Cup.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have met outside Spain only once before in their history: a match in 1982 in Venezuela -- a 1-0 win for Real courtesy of a Vicente del Bosque goal.

The game will be broadcast in the U.S. on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Tickets will go on sale at the ICC's website on March 20, three days after an exclusive presale.

El Clasico is the biggest match in club football with over 400 million viewers worldwide. The clubs drew 1-1 when they played on Dec. 3 in La Liga, and the next match between the two Spanish giants is scheduled for April 23 at the Bernabeu.

The ICC match at the home of the Miami Dolphins is expected to include two of football's greatest players: current Ballon d'Or-holder Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the five-time winner of the award.

"When they come to play a game, there's nothing friendly about it. It's like a war. They don't like to lose," said Stephen Ross, the ICC co-founder and Dolphins owner, at a news conference announcing the event on Friday.

Real Madrid vice president Emilio Butragueno added: "We are fully aware of how passionate people are about futbol here in Miami."

Barcelona took part in the ICC last summer, alongside the likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter, Milan, Leicester City and Celtic.

In total, the 17-team tournament was played in 19 venues across the United States, Europe, Australia and China, with Italian side Juventus winning the China edition and PSG picking up the trophy for U.S. and Europe.

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