The are more than 35 players from the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup taking part in this month's Women's International Champions Cup.
On the FIFA WWC's Twitter page, Olympique Lyonnais (54%) won the poll as the overwhelming favorites to lift the trophy in the United States. Reigning champions North Carolina Courage scooped 28% of the votes while the chances of Manchester City (11%) and Atletico de Madrid (7%) were deemed rather low by the 1,500+ users who voted.
Football, however, is not played in polls but on the pitch and this is why the Primera Iberdrola's back-to-back-to-back champions, Atleti, would want to prove the Twitter sphere wrong. Likewise, English giants and FA Women's Super League runners-up Man City will aim to do better than last year when they finished third at the Women's ICC.
Now, whilst NWSL champions and hometown heroes NC Courage look to defend their crown, Division 1 Feminine's Lyon are plotting to upset their American rivals after falling 1-0 to them in the final at Miami Gardens last year.
The first fixture of the 2019 Women's International Champions Cup to hit your ESPN screen is Olympique Lyonnais vs Atletico de Madrid. This fierce match-up comes up at 5:00 PM ET on Thursday.
It will be followed by North Carolina Courage vs Manchester City at 7:30 PM ET.
ESPN will subsequently broadcast the third-place final at 5:00 PM ET and the ultimate final at 7:30 PM ET on Sunday, August 18.
As noted on our competition page, all matches of the 2019 Women's International Champions Cup are available on ESPN2 Norte and ESPN Play Norte in multiple countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico.
