The promoters behind the International Champions Cup have flagged the possibility of including Hyundai A-League teams in future Australian editions of the high-profile pre-season tournament.
The ICC will be staged Down Under for the first time this month when Real Madrid, Manchester City and Roma face off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
This year’s North American edition of the event will see the likes of Major League Soccer clubs LA Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls tackle European giants Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea.
And Bart Campbell, chairman of joint organisers TLA Worldwide, wants that model to be replicated in Australia.
“The theory in America was start with international teams, create an annual event on the calendar, and then over time as you expand the format, introduce local teams so that you’ve kind of got the best of both worlds,” he told the Herald Sun.
The TLA representative also confirmed there will be at least three more years of ICC matches in Australia, with the possibility of different states staging the competition in the future.
“We’ve committed to the tournament for four years,” Campbell said.
“That’s Australia-wide and we’re in discussion with governments about where it may be held. So within that context, if Melbourne thought it was a good thing then we’re very happy to continue those discussions.”
Campbell went on to suggest that hosting the ICC could prove to be a fillip for the A-League and also encourage free-to-air networks to compete with subscription providers for the rights to broadcast the national league.
“There is a real aspiration that this can help lift the professional game in this country by showing what the best looks like,” Campbell said.
“And when, within that, Channel 9 have entered the broadcasting of football rights in this market.
“Does that present an opportunity to enter in to the next negotiations? I don’t know.
“But surely if that did transpire then that would be a good legacy for the tournament to leave, to give nationwide free to air coverage on a big commercial network.”
