Australian football fans have been handed another early Christmas present with confirmation that English Premier League heavyweights Tottenham Hotspur and Serie A giants Juventus will join Melbourne Victory for the International Champions Cup in 2016.
Melbourne Victory will begin the tournament against the Italian powerhouses on July 23, fresh off Euro 2016 which will be held in France and may have some impact on the touring squads.
After the ICC hit Australian shores for the first time in July this year, amassing over 200,000 spectators ( including 99,382 people at the match between Real Madrid and Manchester City), the tournament has expanded to include a local based team in the Melbourne Victory for 2016.
Outside90 understands there is work being done behind the scenes to lure another team which would strengthen an already appealing ICC 2016. This is set to be confirmed in February.
Melbourne’s MCG is again the setting for the tournament, after the Andrews governing signed a deal earlier this year that would keep the International Champions Cup in Melbourne until at least 2018.
Italian giants Juventus will arrive in Australia potentially on the back of a fifth straight Serie A title, should they get the job done in the league this season, and were recently in the country in 2013 when they tackled an A-League All-Stars outfit at ANZ Stadium in Sydney in front of 55,364.
It is expected the Bianconeri will lure even bigger crowds in Melbourne, which is home to one of their biggest followings outside of Italy.
Tottenham themselves are no strangers to Australia shores after being out in the country earlier this year, drawing over 80,000 at ANZ Stadium in a friendly against Sydney FC.
With both these teams now joined by a local team in the Melbourne Victory, the impact of the ICC on Australia football is only set to rise with next year’s instalment.
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