Chapter 226: A New Transfer King! One Last Frenzy in the Market! American Money Is Just Too Easy to Make
As July slowly arrived, the storm of Europe's summer transfer market began to settle.
Major clubs started preparing for preseason training.
The International Champions Cup (ICC), which had rocked the North American and Asian markets the previous summer, also ramped up its promotional efforts.
This year's edition was clearly aiming to be even bigger than last year's.
Even the World Football Challenge, which had taken a break in 2010 due to the World Cup, was being revived.
It was clear the North American organizers had no intention of giving up on this lucrative piece of the global football market.
However, due to contracts signed with ICC by twelve of Europe's top clubs—and a limited schedule—none of them would participate in the World Football Challenge,
even after the Americans offered larger appearance fees.
For these top clubs, what mattered most was not the money, but reliability, planning, and logistical guarantees.
That said, the World Football Challenge still managed to invite five European clubs:
Valencia from La Liga, Roma from Serie A, Olympiacos from Greece, Celtic from Scotland, and Benfica from Portugal.
Along with Chivas and Club América from Mexico, and the MLS East and West All-Star Teams, the total participation reached nine clubs.
But the schedule? Total chaos.
It was already July when they finally released the match schedule.
Everyone could see—it was a hastily assembled lineup.
Meanwhile, the ICC had already announced its groups and fixtures well in advance.
With the return of the World Football Challenge, the battle for the North American football market this summer was set to be intense.
The two tournaments clashed over everything: teams, schedules, stadiums—even venues were fiercely contested.
Looking at U.S. stadiums, the East Coast had far more massive venues—many with capacities over 100,000.
Last year, Bayswater Chinese Club played to sold-out crowds on the East Coast.
The ICC saw this coming and locked in contracts with many major venues in advance, making it impossible for the World Football Challenge to compete.
Besides, they weren't confident they could fill such big stadiums.
Larger venues meant higher rent—and cost control was crucial.
Out west, however, the situation was different.
Texas was the most obvious battleground.
The World Football Challenge used its U.S. connections to secure Reliant Stadium in Houston, which boasts over 70,000 seats, 166 executive suites, and 7,000 VIP seats.
All of those generate additional revenue.
They also booked Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, another 70,000-seat venue.
This put major pressure on the ICC's schedule.
For weeks, David Pensell and Richard Masters had been practically living in the U.S., working non-stop to sort things out.
In the end, they not only resolved the venue issues through numerous contacts, but even came up with a brilliant counter-strategy—one so sharp that even Yang Cheng applauded when he heard it.
If executed successfully, the World Football Challenge might not survive beyond this year.
To counter the competition, ICC held intense discussions with its 12 partnered clubs and decided to send the four most marketable teams to the U.S.:
Bayswater Chinese Club, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Barcelona.
These were, without doubt, the four most influential clubs in world football.
Additionally, the newly crowned Champions League winners Arsenal, and Chelsea, who had deep roots in North America, would also play in the U.S. leg.
Since Bayswater played on the East Coast last year, they were assigned to the West Coast this time.
To drum up buzz, Yang Cheng also supported ICC by relocating the team's summer camp to Los Angeles.
And to further stir the pot, Yang Cheng scheduled friendlies against the very European clubs participating in the rival World Football Challenge.
But just before all this could kick off, a major headache appeared...
…
The Sun, known for its transfer scoops, dropped a bombshell on July 1st:
Bayswater Chinese Club's Croatian midfielder, Ivan Rakitić, had stalled contract renewal talks.
It started when Rakitić's agent, Arturo Canales, told The Sun that negotiations had hit a wall.
He didn't give details, but The Sun dug them up.
The issue? Toni Kroos' arrival had threatened Rakitić's importance at the club.
Back in 2010, Bayswater had been negotiating an extension with Rakitić.
His current deal ran until 2013.
But now, with Kroos in the mix, Rakitić wanted a greater role.
"True, Toni Kroos helped the team win a treble last season,"
"But in the Champions League, the team still fell short in the semifinals."
"It's not just Rakitić—others inside the squad also question whether Kroos replacing Rakitić was the right move."
"But Yang Cheng trusts Kroos completely and has given him a central role."
"At Bayswater, Yang Cheng's authority is absolute—his decisions are beyond question."
"Rakitić has repeatedly sought private meetings with Yang Cheng, hoping for a clear affirmation of his role—just like it was before Kroos arrived."
But now, things had changed.
Barcelona were looking to strengthen their midfield this summer, with Fàbregas their top target.
But the Arsenal captain had just renewed his contract for a massive salary and had no desire to return to the Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, still reeling from missing out on Pastore, were also in the hunt for a creative midfielder.
Mancini's top target? Rakitić.
With Steven Gerrard now 31, bringing in a 23-year-old midfielder entering his prime was the perfect move.
Rakitić wasn't just a box-to-box player—he had exceptional vision, long-range passing, and late runs into the box.
He was seen as the perfect heir to Gerrard.
Back in the Champions League, Liverpool's ambitions had reignited—they wanted to restore their past glory.
But after missing out on Benatia and Pastore, frustration was mounting.
Now they had set their sights on Rakitić.
The Sun reported that there weren't many big-name players on the market this summer.
Sure, Agüero and Pastore were talented and young, but neither had proven themselves on the biggest stages.
But Rakitić?
He was a core player at Bayswater.
A key starter during their sextuple season.
Even in Champions League finals, he had put in standout performances.
"A player like this hitting the market? That'll send shockwaves through Europe."
"He might just be the biggest surprise of this summer's transfer window."
…
Bayswater Chinese Club also received a clear message from Ivan Rakitić's agent.
The player wanted to stay—but only if he could play a more important role.
In other words: he wanted to be a starter.
This was a dilemma every top club faced.
Had the player been older, the issue would've been easier to resolve.
But Rakitić was only 23, and Toni Kroos just 21.
Not to mention Ramsey, Pogba, and De Bruyne were all waiting in the wings, ready to pounce.
In a way, Yang Cheng understood Rakitić.
If he didn't fight for his spot now, he risked being squeezed out entirely once Kroos hit top form—or once one of the others broke through.
"We don't have many options," Dan Ashworth said bluntly. "If we can't meet his demands, we might as well sell him."
Mike Rigg nodded.
"Two years left on his deal—it's long, but also short."
Two years meant there was time to renew.
But once it hit summer 2012, with only one year left, Bayswater would be in a weak negotiating position.
It's the classic contract chess game in European football.
Most deals are four to five years, but the leverage battle is constant.
Clubs want to lock down talent before market value spikes. Players want leverage for the best terms.
Right now, Rakitić wasn't making a scene. He wasn't speaking publicly.
There were still two years left on his contract. Things hadn't reached the breaking point—yet.
Bayswater had two options:
Let him go amicably and sell while his value was highMeet his demands and offer a new deal
"I'll talk to Modrić," Yang Cheng said.
Everyone understood. Yang Cheng held Modrić in the highest regard.
And Rakitić was his national teammate and close friend.
Whether it ended in a sale or renewal, Modrić's opinion would matter.
…
Yang Cheng called Modrić, who was vacationing back home in Croatia.
He had already heard the news.
Yang Cheng suspected Rakitić had spoken to him.
Modrić replied respectfully:
"I'll respect whatever you and the club decide, boss. I won't take sides."
"And please know—whatever you decide, I'll always give everything I have for you and for this club."
Relieved, Yang Cheng put the call down.
But just then, Spanish newspaper AS dropped a bombshell—an exclusive interview with Real Madrid manager José Mourinho.
And in it, Mourinho brought up Rakitić by name.
The Real Madrid coach stated that his team badly needed a midfielder like Rakitić—someone who could contribute on both ends and take them to the next level.
"I don't know why he's not a core player at Bayswater," Mourinho said.
"But I'll say this: he's the most underrated player in all of Europe. He has extraordinary talent and skill—he's a genius!"
Mourinho added that a player like Rakitić would walk into any elite team.
"As soon as I heard he might be available, I called Florentino immediately. I told him:
'We must sign Rakitić.'"
The interview set the football world ablaze.
Barcelona and Liverpool were already in the hunt—it was a hot war.
Now Real Madrid had joined the race.
This was an all-out bidding war.
Unlike Agüero or Pastore, Rakitić had already proved himself on the biggest stages.
A key starter at Bayswater.
A Champions League finalist.
A midfield general during their historic sextuple.
"If a player like this hits the market, it'll turn Europe upside down."
"He's the biggest surprise of the summer window."
That came from The Sun.
…
Spanish transfer expert Guillem Balague then revealed in his column that Real Madrid had formally contacted Bayswater to ask whether they'd accept an offer.
"Bayswater responded positively."
Balague added that Real Madrid were preparing an official bid, and that GM José Sánchez would personally oversee the deal.
"Florentino Pérez agrees with Mourinho—missing out on Rakitić isn't an option."
Meanwhile, Edin Džeko also spoke to the press about his former teammate.
Now at Real Madrid, Džeko was careful with his words.
"Rakitić is a world-class midfielder," he said.
"We played together for years—he's always had exceptional quality. He'd be a key player anywhere."
Džeko also spoke positively of Toni Kroos and Bayswater.
"I've never played with Kroos, but I've faced him. He's a unique midfielder—and people say he has great leadership qualities."
Asked who he would pick between Kroos and Rakitić?
Džeko laughed.
"Right now, it looks like we only have a shot at signing Rakitić."
He even added:
"If needed, I can call him and invite him to the Bernabéu myself."
Now that Bayswater had opened the door, the biggest name left on the summer market was officially available.
Suddenly, the madness of the transfer window came into sharp focus.
Barcelona had initially offered €40 million, but Bayswater rejected it.
Liverpool and Real Madrid then matched each other at €50 million.
Real Madrid began playing the emotional card:
MourinhoDžekoMaicon
All spoke up, as if to tell Rakitić: Come to Madrid. You'll be at home.
Then, as if things couldn't get crazier, Paris Saint-Germain entered the race.
They matched the transfer record for Agüero, offering €55 million.
With a cash-rich, relentless PSG in the mix, Barcelona backed out.
Club president Sandro Rosell said in an interview with Sport:
"Today's transfer market is inflated beyond reason. Barça will not be part of this madness."
Rosell believed Rakitić was worth at most €50 million.
But clearly, the market had gone wild.
And the Middle Eastern money was the reason why.
Still, Rosell's words rang hollow—no one cared when Real Madrid offered €60 million.
That's right.
Real Madrid went all in—€60 million for Ivan Rakitić.
The world was stunned.
Who could've predicted that Rakitić would spark the final, wildest bidding war of the summer?
Even as many media outlets had analyzed, if Pastore could command a sky-high €50 million transfer fee, how much was Rakitić—who had already proven himself on the biggest stage—truly worth?
Liverpool soon raised their bid again—£52 million, approximately €65 million.
That already surpassed the transfer fee paid for Yaya Touré.
Among all the players sold by Bayswater Chinese Club in recent years, this was second only to Edin Džeko.
But Džeko was a center-forward.
At that point, Real Madrid could no longer keep up and reluctantly withdrew from the race, officially announcing they would not pursue Rakitić.
But Paris Saint-Germain made another move, unleashing a final trump card—€70 million, or around £56 million.
Liverpool's Saudi-backed owners hesitated for half a day before returning with a new offer—£60 million, roughly €75 million—to sign the 23-year-old Croatian midfielder.
PSG, already spending heavily this summer, had finally reached their financial limit.
They backed out.
And so, Liverpool officially signed Ivan Rakitić from Bayswater Chinese Club for £60 million.
The deal shook the footballing world.
Media and fans everywhere reported it nonstop.
Just as the world was still reeling from PSG's €50 million splurge on Pastore, another Middle Eastern powerhouse—this time Saudi money behind Liverpool—shelled out €75 million for Rakitić.
No one had expected Liverpool to go that far.
For Liverpool fans, it was exhilarating.
Not just because of Rakitić—but because it proved Liverpool had money again.
With Gerrard already 31, bringing in a midfielder whose profile mirrored his own was the perfect move.
More importantly, Liverpool had been frustrated all summer.
Despite having funds, they couldn't land anyone major.
Pastore went to PSG, Benatia to Chelsea.
Yes, the club signed Downing, Henderson, and Bellamy, but the overall strength of the squad hadn't improved much.
Now with Rakitić, Liverpool's midfield took a huge step forward.
And for the first time in years, they had a true successor to Gerrard.
Coach Mancini, at the press conference announcing Rakitić's arrival, beamed with pride.
"This season, we'll be competing in the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup—and the Champions League. Our squad needs greater depth."
The transfer fee was astronomical—perhaps even outrageous—
"But that's the reality of today's transfer market," Mancini said.
"When you try to buy a player like Rakitić, you quickly realize how rare they are."
Gerrard himself was thrilled.
"He's an outstanding player. I felt that the last time I played against him."
"When we faced Bayswater, I thought—he reminds me of myself, but with better technique and long-range shooting. I truly believe he'll thrive here."
The Liverpool Echo stated that the club's massive bid was a direct result of frustration from earlier setbacks.
"The Saudi consortium wanted to remind the world—Liverpool is still a major force in England and Europe."
…
Rakitić's departure inevitably affected Bayswater Chinese Club.
At Liverpool, his weekly wage leapt from £60,000 to £150,000, placing him firmly in the upper echelon of Premier League earners.
Even Modrić didn't earn that much.
According to the Echo, Rakitić was very happy with the terms.
Bayswater had only offered him £100,000 per week during renewal talks.
This reflected a broader trend in European football.
With PSG, Manchester City, Liverpool, and even Chelsea and Manchester United willing to spend freely, wage inflation was rampant.
Arsenal remained relatively modest.
But Chelsea continued to spend big on wages.
United handed Phil Jones, a virtual unknown, £80,000 per week.
That's £4.16 million annually, or around €5.2 million—a solid upper-middle salary at Real Madrid.
Bayswater, as always, stayed frugal.
After selling Rakitić, they didn't sign anyone.
On July 4th, most Premier League clubs began preseason training.
Within the club, Rakitić's departure had barely stirred the dressing room.
Players had long grown accustomed to the comings and goings.
On the first day of preseason, the club published the 25-man squad for the U.S. training camp:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Begović
Defenders: Pepe, Thiago Silva, Kompany, José Fonte, Marcelo, Ryan Bertrand, Piszczek, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Matić, Javi Martínez, Modrić, Toni Kroos, Aaron Ramsey, Kevin De Bruyne, Paul Pogba
Forwards: Lewandowski, Harry Kane, Giroud, Gareth Bale, Walcott, Eden Hazard, Di María, Sterling
Compared to last season's 25-man list, Rakitić was out, and Sterling was in.
But fans and reporters knew—Sterling had trained with the first team all last season and already made senior appearances.
The team spent the first three days at Brent training center.
The medical and sports science teams conducted thorough physical assessments, while the coaches tailored individual preseason plans for each player.
On the first day, something unexpected happened:
Toni Kroos came to Yang Cheng's office.
He'd clearly heard the rumors about Rakitić's departure.
Looking solemn but determined, he told Yang Cheng:
"Don't worry. I won't let you down."
"I'll prove to everyone that you made the right choice."
Yang Cheng was genuinely surprised.
Kroos always came across cold and aloof—he didn't expect such a heartfelt moment.
"It's not as dramatic as people say," Yang Cheng replied with a smile.
"Ivan and I are still on good terms. Before leaving, he even treated me to a farewell dinner."
"No pressure, Toni. Just keep growing. I've never doubted you—and I never will."
Kroos said what he needed to say—and heard what he needed to hear.
But Yang Cheng's casual tone only made Kroos more determined.
He hadn't played well in last season's Champions League semifinal—and he knew it.
But this season, he would give it everything he had.
…
Wednesday, July 6 – Morning.
Brent Training Center was surrounded early in the morning by a crowd of Fleet Street journalists from London.
Many were there to see the team off, while a few select media outlets that maintained close ties with the club were granted special access to travel with Bayswater Chinese Club for full coverage of their North American training tour.
But when the players and coaches appeared, everyone on-site was stunned.
The players and staff, who usually dressed casually and with varied styles, were now all wearing matching black suits—high-end tailored pieces—paired with polished leather shoes.
Their hair was clearly styled and groomed.
Except for Marcelo.
The Brazilian wore the full suit—but combined it with his wild, fluffy afro, giving off an unintentionally comedic vibe.
Anyone who knew Marcelo's personality couldn't help but laugh.
It was totally in character for him.
Even so, the suits alone wouldn't have turned so many heads.
The key detail was that each person carried a stylish travel suitcase, each with a different design and color, but all of them clearly premium.
It was a meticulously planned moment.
The journalists immediately started snapping photos and filming.
After the arrival, the whole team posed for a formal group photo in front of the training center. The shoot lasted over half an hour.
The new media team had an even greater advantage than the press—they got up close to shoot detailed close-ups: suit labels, shoe logos, suitcase branding.
These images would later be edited and uploaded online.
As the team boarded the MANN-sponsored team bus and slowly pulled away from Brent Training Center under the gaze of the cameras, Commercial Director Omar Berrada gathered the media in the press conference room.
There, Bayswater Chinese Club officially announced two new global sponsorships:
American Tourister, a luggage brand under Samsonite, became the club's global luggage partner.Burberry, the iconic British luxury label, became the official partner for formalwear and leather shoes.
Omar Berrada addressed the media:
"We've always been committed to delivering top-tier service to all our global partners."
"At the same time, we can proudly say: we aim to become the most influential sports brand in the world."
At the end of the 2010/11 season, Bayswater Chinese Club had announced revenues of €481 million—in compliance with Premier League rules requiring clubs to publish financial data.
Shortly afterward, Real Madrid also released their numbers—just over €482 million, barely ahead.
Was it really just a coincidence?
According to Deloitte and many Spanish media estimates, Real Madrid's actual revenue was likely around €478 million. Their public number was conveniently inflated.
Their motive was clear:
Real Madrid wanted to hold onto their status as world football's top earner.
Now, Bayswater Chinese Club had fired back, announcing not just their record earnings, but two new top-tier global sponsorships—making it clear:
The new season had begun—and Real Madrid couldn't keep up.
Burberry sponsoring Bayswater wasn't a huge surprise.
After all, Paul Smith had successfully partnered with Manchester United in 2008, paving the way for other luxury brands to see the value in football.
Even Italian labels like Armani had approached Bayswater in the past.
In the end, the club went with Burberry.
This joint promo event—coinciding with the club's departure—was a brilliantly coordinated campaign with both sponsors.
But the real point wasn't Brent, or even football.
After the media team compiled the footage, the campaign would be launched across digital platforms.
All three parties—the club, the sponsors, and the ICC tournament—would engage in simultaneous marketing pushes, leveraging the buzz around Bayswater's U.S. tour and the upcoming International Champions Cup.
It was a new marketing model pioneered by the club.
Adam Crozier believed this multi-party synergy would produce excellent results.
"The club, sponsors, and event all benefit—a win-win for everyone."
That's why the new media team had become such a key part of Bayswater's marketing operation—and continued to grow.
…
Yang Cheng had led training camps in Los Angeles in his previous life.
This time, he requested the ICC to book Drake Stadium at UCLA.
The stadium had top-tier facilities: not just football pitches, but also a gym, pool, and more next door.
Even better, it was a fully private training venue.
According to ICC's plan, Bayswater's training sessions would be open to the public—but only with paid tickets.
Unlike last year's free open session at Beaver Stadium, these were more exclusive—and more expensive.
General entry: $99, including a special breakfast (as training sessions were scheduled in the morning).
To meet the players, fans had to buy a meet-and-greet package for $399.
Those fans gained access to an exclusive area for photos, autographs, and interaction.
On the first public session, the day after the team arrived in the U.S., over 1,500 fans attended, and more than 800 bought the full package.
According to ICC's feedback, ticket revenue for the day exceeded $400,000.
This revenue was split between ICC and Bayswater Chinese Club.
But the number alone showed just how massive Bayswater's presence in the U.S. had become.
Every day, fans poured into Drake Stadium to watch the team train, keeping the venue buzzing nonstop.
Bayswater's players were already used to these commercial-style events.
Once in the U.S., aside from the occasional appearance or PR duty, their time was consumed by intense preseason training.
With the medical and sports science departments supervising, the coaches imposed grueling two-a-day sessions—pushing the players to the edge of exhaustion.
In the first 10 days at UCLA, aside from one promotional event for American Tourister, the team trained nonstop.
It was brutal.
…
Ten days after arriving in the U.S., Bayswater Chinese Club played their first friendly.
The opponent: LA Galaxy, from Major League Soccer.
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, LA Galaxy's home ground.
There wasn't much to say about the game itself.
Bayswater had just finished a grueling training phase—they were clearly rusty.
LA Galaxy, in midseason form, were much sharper.
The match featured stars like David Beckham and Landon Donovan—adding commercial value.
Beckham assisted Donovan for a counterattack goal, but Bayswater scored twice in the second half.
2–1, Bayswater scraped out a win.
But what really interested Yang Cheng—was not the result.
It was the ticket prices.
This match was arranged by the ICC, hosted by LA Galaxy, and Bayswater Chinese Club received an appearance fee.
The Dignity Health Sports Park has a capacity of 27,000, and every seat was filled.
But what shocked everyone was that the top-tier ticket price was $645—that's €448.
The lowest ticket was €48, or $76.
The average ticket price? Over $250.
More than the average ticket for the International Champions Cup final.
That meant just this one match generated $7 million in ticket revenue.
Bayswater Chinese Club's appearance fee was £2 million, which is already considered very high—roughly $3.6 million.
And LA Galaxy got the same.
Possibly even more.
Absolutely outrageous.
"Now you understand why I kept saying we set our ticket prices too low?" said Richard Masters, smiling helplessly.
"In America, fans are just willing to spend. Even regular MLS ticket prices are high."
Yang Cheng nodded.
"We're new here. Let's call it low-margin, high-volume for market share."
Plenty of money, plenty of fans.
Making money in America is just too easy.
…
After playing LA Galaxy, the team continued training at Drake Stadium.
Next, they headed north to Bulldog Stadium in Fresno for a friendly against Celtic of the Scottish Premiership.
Originally a football (American) stadium for Fresno State University, it was converted for the match.
The pitch was subpar.
Still, 40,000 fans showed up in full force.
Bayswater Chinese Club was still out of rhythm and drew 2–2 with Celtic.
But Yang Cheng and his coaching staff were pleased.
It wasn't about the result—it was about the process.
This U.S. tour wasn't just about fitness and conditioning. It was also about refining attacking tactics.
The full-backs were given more freedom, especially Marcelo on the left.
These changes needed time—and real matches—to bed in.
After the Celtic match, the team spent three more days recovering at Drake Stadium before flying to Phoenix, Arizona.
There, they played their final friendly—against Valencia.
The match took place next door in Tempe, at Sun Devil Stadium, home of Arizona State University.
This time, Bayswater Chinese Club's form had clearly improved—they defeated Valencia 2–0.
Valencia, having lost key players like Juan Mata this summer, were notably weaker.
Still, 50,000 fans attended the game.
From the moment they arrived in the U.S., Bayswater's buzz only grew.
Yes, there were a few small controversies—some fans complained that training session ticket packages were too expensive and too limited, preventing them from interacting with their favorite stars.
But the backlash quickly faded.
U.S. media outlets extensively covered Bayswater's training camp.
The club itself updated fans daily—Twitter, YouTube, Facebook—posting training footage, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes clips, engaging fans nonstop.
By late July, after three warm-up games, the football atmosphere in the U.S. was fully ignited.
Especially once Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan, and Bayern Munich all landed on U.S. soil—the country erupted in football fever.
Following last year's success, this year's second International Champions Cup officially set the U.S. soccer scene on fire.
Bayswater, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and AC Milan battled in the West Coast group.Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Juventus clashed in the East Coast group.
The winners of each group would face off in the final in Tennessee, in the American Southeast.
Every match was a clash of European giants.
America cheered for this unprecedented football carnival.
In comparison, the World Football Challenge paled in scale and excitement.
Still, thanks to the ICC's hype, Bayswater's growing U.S. fame, and the two events clashing, the World Football Challenge got some attention.
But they couldn't solve the problems they faced back in 2009.
For instance, they tried dividing their nine teams into two regions, only to realize the schedule was completely unworkable.
And the fans? Not impressed.
They booked huge stadiums—Arrowhead in Kansas City, NRG Stadium in Houston, both over 70,000 capacity.
Tickets didn't sell.
Even when featuring Valencia and Benfica, both Champions League regulars, less than 40,000 tickets were sold per match.
Meaning: half the seats would be empty.
Now compare that to the ICC.
Bayswater vs. AC Milan at University of Phoenix Stadium: 63,400 seats—sold out.Bayswater vs. Champions League winners Arsenal at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas: 92,000 seats—sold out.Bayswater vs. Real Madrid at the Rose Bowl in LA: 93,000 seats—sold out in advance.
Other matches—Arsenal vs. Real Madrid, Arsenal vs. Milan, Real Madrid vs. Milan—all sold out.
Tickets became nearly impossible to find.
So, what was going on?
Why was one tournament struggling to sell tickets, while the other was sold out everywhere?
U.S. media had the answer:
"Fans don't just want matches—they want big teams, star power, and true rivalries."
Compared to the star-studded International Champions Cup, the World Football Challenge had little to offer.
But the biggest surprise?
The upcoming ICC Final in Tennessee.
It would be a showdown that would shock fans around the world—and crush the hopes of the World Football Challenge organizers once and for all.
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