The World Cup in Russia looms on the horizon for soccer fans the world over and China is no different. Reports have emerged from the host nation that Chinese fans will outnumber the English in Russia this summer, no mean feat considering China have not qualified while England have.
While almost 37,000 tickets have been bought by Chinese fans, a little over 30,000 tickets have been sold in England with the World Cup weeks away. Russia’s Sputnik news reports that a total of 100,000 visitors from China are expected during the month-long tournament.
It’s clear that the appetite for top-level football is growing in China but that is not enough. Most major European clubs will be missing the mainland from their pre- and post-season itineraries as they look to make their annual forays into football’s emerging markets and expanding their commercial interests.
Despite the fact that the World Cup is a massive disruption to next season for club managers whose players make it to the later stages, several big-name clubs will play in the International Champions Cup, a multi-location pre-season tournament that has taken place across North America, Asia, Europe and Australia over the last few summers. This year, but for three games in Singapore, it will be played in Europe and the US.
The ICC, which officially announced its programme for 2018 earlier in the week, has lost none of its lustre. The lure of the lucre proving enough to get European giants to sign up. Their big games include Manchester United vs Liverpool in Michigan, which could see a record crowd based on United meeting Real Madrid at the same venue in the summer of the last World Cup, and Bayern Munich vs English Premier Leaguechampions Manchester City in Miami. There’s also time for a United vs Real rematch there at the end of july.
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