Will Real Madrid vs. PSG be the greatest game ever played in Ohio?
That’s an excellent question, one that will likely be answered at Ohio Stadium on July 27. It will easily break records for the largest soccer crowd in Ohio history and it should rival the 109,318 fans that saw Manchester United defeat Real Madrid 3-1 at Michigan Stadium in 2014. That crowd was a U.S. record.
It is not a surprise that Ohio would be graced with such an important match. The Buckeye State has quietly become a soccer hotbed over the years, hosting its share of “big” soccer matches at quality venues found across the state.
Columbus Crew SC (and the previous Columbus Crew brand) have been the spotlight of much of this attention, most recently an incredible MLS Cup final held in Columbus just a few months ago. Columbus also hosts one of Ohio’s top women’s teams in the Columbus Eagles to go with some of the best youth soccer in the Midwest.
Akron is to the Mighty Zips, arguably the best college program in the country, one that produces pro players at a truly prolific rate. FirstEnergy-Cub Cadet field is a great place to see the stars before they reach the global stage. The Akron area, specifically CVCA, is also home to new WPSL side AF Cleveland.
Cleveland has some incredible youth programs with the likes of Cleveland Internationals, Cleveland United, and Cleveland Soccer Academy each being among the best in the region. That success is paired with the NPSL’s AFC Cleveland, a team that has brought top-flight soccer back to the 6th City.
Cleveland is actually a championship city thanks to a USL-2 title from the City Stars in 2008. That team played downtown at CSU’s Krenzler Field and in the suburbs in Bedford. The Cleveland Force and Cleveland Crunch were the biggest names in the indoor game. FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, has hosted the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams and some high-profile opponents (Germany, Venezuela, the Netherlands) a number of times over the years.
Great soccer can also be found in Dayton and Cincinnati thanks to the Dayton Dutch Lions, Dayton Dynamo, FC Cincinnati, Cincinnati Sirens, and the Cincinnati Dutch Lions. Even Canton has hosted major soccer events, including a number of national combines and tournaments.
So it’s pretty clear that Ohio deserves to have one of the top matches of the International Champions Cup played right here in Columbus. It’s going to be a great night on July 27th.
