CF Monterrey replace Washington Spirit in Women's International Champions Cup | OneFootball

CF Monterrey will replace the Washington Spirit in the upcoming Women’s International Champions Cup this summer after the NWSL side withdrew from the competition due to scheduling concerns.

The Liga MX Femenil team now joins Chelsea, Lyon and hosts Portland Thorns in the annual competition running from August 17 to August 20 at Providence Park. All four teams earned a spot in the tournament after winning a championship in their respective leagues.

Chelsea lifted the Women’s Super League title, while Lyon won the Champions League and Monterrey stood as the 2021 Apertura leader. The Portland Thorns lifted the Supporters Shield and Challenge Cup in 2021. The NWSL side also enters the competition as the defending WICC champion after defeating Lyon 1-0 in 2021.

“We are very happy to come into play against teams as good as Chelsea, Portland because we know we are going to have competitive games, and for the girls that’s very good, too, because they get to play in big games," Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor said.

"So that’s important to be able to play against the best teams and to play in a country where women’s soccer is the most famous.”

The competition kicked off in 2018 after New York-based Relevent Sports Group, which also runs the men’s version of the International Champions Cup, launched the women’s edition. The tournament has been running ever since, just briefly pausing in 2020 due to Covid-19.

“Portland blew us away last year with the club’s support and the electric excitement from some of the best soccer fans in the world,” Susie Fiore, head of the WICC, said in a statement.