BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 18: Clint Dempsey #8 of USA celebrates a second half goal against Cuba during the second half of USA's 6-0 win during the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal match at M&T Bank Stadium on July 18, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
International football and some of its biggest stars have taken the United States by storm this summer. Between the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup and 2015 International Champions Cup, football pitches across US have and will continue to host top-flight talents from leagues all over the world. Soccer has found itself on more television sets than ever, and taking into account the Women's World Cup, American interest in soccer seems to have reached new heights. Luckily, fans still have much more to watch before the summer reaches its conclusion.
The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup has been headlined by the potential of another United States-Mexico finals clash. Play continues tonight, with two Quarterfinal matches as the U.S. faces Jamaica at 6:00 p.m. ET, followed by Mexico taking on Panama in the nightcap. These games will put Major League Soccer and international icons front and center as they are present on both squads. According to TiqIQ, Gold Cup tickets are averaging $267, with a $100 get-in price for semifinal matches.
The International Champions Cup has brought some of the top flight club teams from around the world to US stadiums. FC Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United are among the participants, driving International Champions Cup ticket prices on the secondary market through the roof. Tickets for the most high-profile game of the series, Manchester United vs. FC Barcelona at Levi's Stadium, costs an average of $223.43, with a get-in price of $77.
High prices may price out some fans, but one simple way to catch all of the thrilling action, not just in the Gold Cup and International Champions Cup but also throughout the rest of the calendar year, is with DISH sports packages, which include Fox Sports 1 and their own exclusive soccer coverage. Tonight's USA-Jamaica game will air on FS1.
The U.S. has a total of 10 MLS members on their side, headlined by Captain Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Mix Diskerud (NYC FC), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) and rising star Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy). Jamaica's 9 MLS squad members have proved to be vital in their success, led by Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo), Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps) and JE-Vaughn Watson.
Panama has fought their way within a game of returning to the Gold Cup Final, led by three big-name MLS players Jaime Penedo (LA Galaxy), Blas Perez (FC Dallas) and Gabriel Torres (Colorado Rapids). Although Mexico has a squad with only one member of MLS, Giovani dos Santos has been in media headlines after recently agreeing to a move sending him to the LA Galaxy. Their roster contains Mexican top-flight Liga MX star Oribe Peralta (Club América) and Spanish La Liga goalie Guillermo Ochoa (Málaga), midfielder Jonathan dos Santos (Villarreal) and forward Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad).
FC Barcelona has become one of the most followed football teams worldwide, with their ICC roster giving fans a chance to see a plethora of players who were featured throughout the 2014 World Cup. This list contains Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez, and a few Spanish icons: defender Gerard Piqué, midfielder Andres Iniesta and Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic.
Joining Barcelona is English Premier League giant Manchester United. Although they will be without the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Team of the Year goalie David de Gea, due to transfer rumors, they still bring highly-talented players to the tournament. Their roster includes English national star Wayne Rooney and speedy winger Ashley Young, as well as recent signings German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Dutch starlet Memphis Depay.