The Portland Thorns and Houston Dash will represent the NWSL while Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais travel from Europe to claim the title of world’s best. Reigning Women's International Champions Cup champions Lyon will try to fend off tournament debutants Houston, Portland and Barcelona.
About 2021 WICC dates and format
The 2021 Women’s International Champions Cup will consist of four matches played as two doubleheaders. The first doubleheader will see Barcelona face off Lyon in an all-European clash and the Portland Thorns take on the Houston Dash in an all-American skirmish on Aug. 18, 2021. The winner of each game will meet in a European vs. U.S. final and the losers will play in the third-place match on Aug. 21, 2021.
About 2021 WICC teams
Barcelona
FC Barcelona Femeni were invited to the WICC after winning the 2020-21 Primera Division and UEFA Champions League titles. The Blaugranes will look to make it a treble as they are in the Copa de la Reina semifinals.
Barca boasts one of the best squads in the world with players like Vicky Losada, Marta Torrejon, Jenni Hermoso, Alexia Putellas, Lieke Martens, Asisat Oshoala, Caroline Graham Hansen, Sandra Panos, Maria Pilar Leon, amongst other world-class players.
Houston Dash
The Houston Dash made it to the WICC for their 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup win, the club’s first-ever major trophy. The Dash will play an underdog role given Portland’s powerful squad. However, Houston knows its way around short tournaments and will see this as an opportunity to be named world champion.
Rachel Daly, Kristie Mewis, Shea Groom, Nichelle Prince, Sophie Schmidt, Deneisha Blackwood, Jane Campbell and Katie Naughton are the team’s leaders on the pitch.
Olympique Lyonnais
WICC reigning champs Olympique Lyonnais was invited to the third edition of the tournament to represent Europe. The French champions are in a tough fight with rivals PSG now for the 2021 Division 1 Feminine title. Make sure to catch the league finale on Sunday, May 30, when Lyon hosts PSG to get a taste of what the seven-time European champions are all about.
Lyon will be without some of their star players in Dzsenifer Marozsan, Eugenie Le Sommer and Sarah Bouhaddi, all of who will be out on loan at OL Reign at the time. However, Wendie Renard, Amandine Henry, Ada Hegerberg, Amel Majri, Catarina Macario, Nikita Parris and Griedge Mbock Bathy will lead the Les Fenottes in August.
Portland Thorns
Mark Parsons’ Portland Thorns will have the comfort of playing at home in Providence Park in front of thousands of fans. The Thorns won the 2020 NWSL Fall Series and the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup. Portland’s star-studded team can match up against any of Europe’s top sides.
A group of players in Christine Sinclair, Lindsey Horan, Raquel Rodriguez, Crystal Dunn, Adrianna Franch, Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver is just the tip of the gigantic iceberg Portland is.
