Last weekend, the Singapore National Stadium was packed to the rafters, with 103,340 spectators over the two nights of football at the 2019 International Champions Cup pre-season tournament – as the event’s four participating teams – Manchester United, Inter, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur – entertained the crowd with thrilling football action.

Brings the best in football to the world

The world’s premier summer football tournament, the International Champions Cup brings the best in football to iconic venues across North America, Europe, Australia, China and South East Asia.

And this marks the third consecutive year that top European football clubs have included Singapore as part of their summer pre-season tour, providing football fans here and the region the chance to get up close to their heroes. 

Singapore sees debut of new club signings 

As well, Singapore also has had the fortune of witnessing the latest signings of this year’s clubs making their debut, be it player or manager. Matthijis De Ligt and Maurizio Sarri made their Juventus debut and Tanguy Ndombele also made his Tottenham debut in Singapore.

New Milestones 

And with each edition of the International Champions Cup, new milestones have been set too.

In 2017, the Chelsea – Bayern match drew 48,522 fans which was the then largest at the National Stadium then. Then in 2018, the Arsenal – Paris St Germain match attracted 50,308 fans, which was also the largest at that time.

The world-class facilities and reputation for efficiency and hospitality in Singapore, are key factors in clubs choosing Singapore as part of their pre-season training tour. 

And as well, the clubs also had the chance to give back to their fans – who otherwise may not have the chance to travel to watch top-flight European football live.

Off-pitch engagements  

But besides the sporting action on the pitch, Singapore City was also abuzz with various lead-up activities for the matches – with the introduction of the International Champions Cup Roving Truck where fans could climb abroad a specially kitted out truck and test their football skills in order to win exclusive football premiums.

Then as the teams arrived in Singapore, activities involving the clubs set Singaporeans alight with football fever, with fans living here, getting the rare opportunity to take selfies with their heroes in the flesh.

An International Champions Cup Legacy Project 

With the International Champions Cup entering its seventh year of bringing world-class football to countries around the world, the event organiser Relevent Sports Group has also started the International Champions Cup Legacy Project, a new initiative to help the host cities beyond match day to give back to the community and leave behind a legacy.

And in support of this initiative, club legends such as Bryan Robson and Denis Irwin from Man U, Julio Cesar from Inter, David Trezeguet from Juventus and Ledley King from Spurs dedicated their time to the Special Olympics Singapore, the chosen beneficiary, where they had imparted football skills and techniques as well as presenting the attending youths with advice, inspiring them to believe in themselves and their dreams.

Singapore is the third city to host the tournament in Asia-Pacific and will be the only country in South East Asia to host a leg of the tournament until 2020.