Relevent Sports Group has just announced the 2021 schedule for the Women’s International Champions Cup presented by Budweiser to be held August 18-21 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon. Four of the top champions from around the world will participate in the premier women’s international club tournament for the chance to be called the world’s best club team.
The four participants have each qualified for the WICC by winning championships in their 2020 tournaments, competitions, and leagues. The Portland Thorns will host the tournament and have qualified as winners of the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. The remaining three clubs are Olympique Lyonnais, who qualified as winners of the 2020 UEFA Women’s Champions League and 2020 D1 Féminine, the Houston Dash, who qualified as winners of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, and FC Barcelona Femení, who qualified as winners of the 2020 Primera División winners. The clubs have continued their winning ways in 2021, with the Portland Thorns taking home the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup and FC Barcelona Femení winning the 2021 UEFA Women’s Champions League and 2021 Primera División. Olympique Lyonnais will be looking to defend their WICC title, while the other three clubs are first time participants in the prestigious event.
“The WICC will reach new heights this summer as it will be held in one of the most electric soccer venues in the country in Portland’s Providence Park,” said RSG CEO Daniel Sillman. “There is no other tournament in international club soccer that has four championship teams competing to be called the world’s best.”
“The collection of talent that will be participating at this summer’s WICC in Portland is incredible,” said Head of the WICC Susie Fiore. “To be able to crown the women’s club world champion in Portland, arguably the best women’s soccer city in the country, will make for an iconic experience for both players and fans.”
The clubs feature United States Women’s National Team stars Crystal Dunn (Portland), Lindsey Horan (Portland), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland), Sophia Smith (Portland), Adrianna Franch (Portland), Kristie Mewis (Houston), Jane Campbell (Houston), and Catarina Macario (Lyon). International stars include Ada Hegerberg (Lyon), Wendie Renard (Lyon), Amandine Henry (Lyon), Amel Majri (Lyon), Delphine Cascarino (Lyon), Damaris Egurrola (Lyon), Lola Gallardo (Lyon), Christine Sinclair (Portland), Rachel Daly (Houston), Sophie Schmidt (Houston), Lieke Martens (FC Barcelona), Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona), Jenni Hermoso (FC Barcelona), Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona), Mapi León (FC Barcelona), Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona), and Marta Torrejon (FC Barcelona).
“It’s prestigious; you get to show who’s the best team in the world,” remarked Olympique Lyonnais star and first ever Ballon d’Or Féminin winner Ada Hegerberg about the WICC in her 2020 documentary titled, ‘My name is Ada Hegerberg.’ “It’s really important for us to go there and show the qualities we have and win.”
The tournament will take place from August 18-21, 2021 at Providence Park, the home of the Portland Thorns. The tournament will consist of four matches played as two doubleheaders. In the first doubleheader, Olympique Lyonnais will face off against FC Barcelona in an all-European clash and the Portland Thorns will play against the Houston Dash in an All-American battle. This will set up a European vs. US final on August 21, as the winners of the first doubleheader meet, while the clubs that lose in the first doubleheader will play in the third-place match on the same day.
“We are looking forward to welcoming some of the top women’s soccer talent in the world to Providence Park this summer at the Women’s ICC tournament,” said Mike Golub, President of Business for the Portland Thorns and the Portland Timbers. “This unique event provides the club an opportunity to not only grow the Thorns brand, but also highlight the passion this city and fan base has for women’s soccer.”
The WICC matches will be televised live in both English and Spanish on the ESPN networks. Tickets will be available in June on the ICC website.
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