What with all the frenzy surrounding this summer's World Cup finals, there is still life beyond the tournament with the International Champions Cup (ICC) set to begin towards the end of July in the United States, just five days after the competition ends.
The ICC is an opportunity for European clubs to find form and fitness through pre-season fixtures ahead of the new league campaign set to start in August, and will hold massive clashes between the teams all across America.
But the ICC is not merely a chance for players to regain their match-fitness after a summer off, as it is also an opportunity for American football fans to watch their team on home turf and even, on some occasions, observe their training sessions and meet them in between fixtures.
As the World Cup is still ongoing, however, which players will actually travel to the United States, and which players will miss out on the ICC this summer due to international commitments or an extended summer break after being eliminated late on from the Russia finals?
Goal brings you all you need to know ahead of team news for this summer's ICC tournament.
What is the ICC?
The International Champions Cup is an annual club association football exhibition competition featuring elite European sides, holding pre-season fixtures in North America, Europe and Asia.
Barcelona were last year's competition winners in the United States and this year's schedule is a jam-packed event that includes the big-name likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona, Tottenham and more.
The fixtures will be played from July to August, with the opening fixture set to be played between Manchester City Borussia Dortmund at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 20.
Which Manchester United players will take part in ICC 2018?
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A handful of Manchester United players are still involved with their countries at the World Cup and the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Phil Jones and Ashley Young still in Russia.
They are all unlikely to feature for the Red Devils in the North American leg of the ICC which includes games against AC Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Argentina international Marcos Rojo is also a doubt – at least in the early stages of pre-season – to travel after his side were eliminated in the last 16, and would be permitted to enjoy a longer summer break ahead of the new season.
Likewise, Sweden's Victor Lindelof will also be afforded an extended holiday after his side crashed out in the quarter-final stage to Sweden.
Manchester United players who were eliminated in the group stage round are more likely to make an appearance for all three ICC fixtures, so Nemanja Matic who was knocked out in the first phase with Serbia could be set to feature in the first fixture against AC Milan at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles on July 25.
David de Gea, who was eliminated with Spain in the last 16, may not feature for the first fixture or two after being granted extra leave, though Juan Mata – who did not feature for La Roja – is expected to travel.
Alexis Sanchez will be amongst the squad in America as Chile failed to qualify for the World Cup, and Frenchman Anthony Martial is also available after failing to receive a call-up for Les Bleus in Russia. Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling did not participate in Russia and are set to be in the team that flies out to America on July 15, the day of the final.
You can view Manchester United's full pre-season fixture list in full here .
Which Real Madrid players will take part in ICC 2018?
Real Madrid are a side expected to bring a squad mostly comprised of academy and youth players as a large majority of their squad progressed to the late stages of the World Cup, either enabling them to be handed an extended summer vacation that will see them miss out on the ICC or having them still compete in the Russia finals.
Croatia captain Luka Modric is still in the World Cup after defeating home side Russia in a penalty shootout to earn a semi-final berth against England.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be a Juventus player by the time that the ICC kicks off, ruling him out of any Real Madrid farewell appearances.
Brazilians Marcelo and Casemiro exited at the quarter-final stage and are unlikely to feature in the ICC fixtures against Man Utd, Juventus and Roma.
Spain internationals Marco Asensio, Nacho, Isco, Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez left Russia in the last 16 and could play a part in the latter fixtures towards the beginning of August.
Toni Kroos will likely be traveling in time to feature in the opening game against Manchester United on July 31 after his Germany team were eliminated in the first round in a shock result.
Which Liverpool players will take part in ICC 2018?
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Liverpool have four players remaining in Russia as of the World Cup semi-final stage, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson representing England, Dejan Lovren playing for Croatia and Simon Mignolet the reserve goalkeeper for Belgium.
It is highly unlikely that any of the quartet will make it out for the ICC tournament in the States – especially after making the final of the tournament – though there are a handful of Liverpool stars who are set to return from their summer break in time to face Jurgen Klopp's old side Borussia Dortmund in Charlotte on July 21, the first leg of the tour.
Following their opener in Charlotte, they head to New York to face Manchester City before ending their tour against Manchester United in Michigan.
Dutch internationals Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum returned to training on July 8 at Melwood after playing no part in the World Cup due to the Netherlands not qualifying. New summer arrivals Fabinho from Monaco and Naby Keita from RB Leipzig are also set to be part of the pre-season squad after playing a part in Liverpool's friendly fixture against Chester in early July.
It's more good news for Reds fans after Klopp confirmed that stars Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah will return to training on July 20 just before they fly out to America, after Senegal and Egypt respectively were knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage.
Brazil international Roberto Firmino is unlikely to head to the States early after Brazil were knocked out late in the quarter-final phase.
Marko Grujic was named as part of Serbia's squad in Russia and was knocked out in the group stage, though his future at Anfield remains uncertain as he looks to be given the boot on a free transfer later this summer after being long linked with a move away.
English players who didn't travel to Russia including Adam Lallana, James Milner, Joe Gomez, Nathaniel Clyne, Daniel Sturridge and Dominic Solanke are also set to travel.
You can view Liverpool's pre-season fixture list in full here .
Which Tottenham players will take part?
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Tottenham are another Premier League side who still have players still heavily involved in the World Cup. Star striker Harry Kane is, of course, England captain and on course to bring the football home for the Three Lions, alongside club mates Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Dele Alli.
Belgium's national side are well-represented by Spurs players in Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Mousa Dembele. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris captains the French team that have reached the final. They are all not likely to feature in the North American stages of the ICC.
Heung-min Son, however, could return to training in time for their first ICC clash against Roma in San Diego on July 25 after South Korea crashed out in the first round. After this they face Barcelona at the Rose Bowl in California on July 28 before closing out the tournament against AC Milan on July 31 in Minnesota.
Colombia's Davinson Sanchez and Denmark's Christian Eriksen could be given extended holidays after their national sides went as far as the quarter-final stages.
The rest of the squad's stars in Moussa Sissoko, Fernando Llorente, Vincent Janssen and Victor Wanyama are all set to return to club duty before Tottenham jet off to America.
You can view Tottenham's pre-season fixture list in full here .
Which Barcelona players will take part in ICC 2018?
Barcelona fans in America may be in for some good news with just Ivan Rakitic, Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen the players still featuring in the World Cup semi-finals.
The club announced that those players currently not involved in the World Cup would report back for training on July 11, to resume full preparations on July 12.
Argentina star Lionel Messi crashed out in the last 16 stage alongside Spain's Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Thiago Alcantara and could play a part midway through the ICC. Meanwhile, Colombia's Yerry Mina, and Brazilians Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho could miss out on the ICC entirely after finishing in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Luis Suarez is the only Uruguayan in the Barcelona side and could also be set to return to club duty until later on in the summer, after his side lost to France in the quarter-final stage too.
Barcelona's first ICC fixture will be against Tottenham on July 28, before facing Roma in Dallas on July 31 and finally AC Milan on August 4.
Which Manchester City players will take part in ICC 2018?
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As of the World Cup's semi-final stage, Manchester City's biggest stars are still representing their countries in Russia. Star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is still on duty with Belgium alongside club captain Vincent Kompany, while Benjamin Mendy is still with Les Bleus.
John Stones, Fabian Delph, Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling are all still at England duty and are set to feature in the Three Lions' semi-final clash with Croatia, with none of the semi-finalists likely to travel for the ICC in America.
Brazil international Ederson may feature in the ICC sooner as he was the Selecao's second-choice goalkeeper after Roma's Alisson, though both Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus may be out with a longer summer break.
Argentina stars Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi may play in the ICC in the later stages after their side was eliminated in the last 16 stage to France, while Spain's David Silva and Portugal's Bernardo Silva were both knocked out in the last 16 phase as well and could feature earlier rather than later.
Leroy Sane was a surprise exclusion from Germany's World Cup squad and could feature as early as their first game against Borussia Dortmund on July 20 in Chicago. They then face Liverpool in Charlotte on July 21 before finishing their tour in Miami against Bayern.
New £60 million ($80m) signing Riyad Mahrez had the summer off with Algeria not having qualified for the 2018 World Cup and is likely to be in Guardiola's pre-season plans.
The likes of Phil Foden, Aymeric Laporte and Oleksandr Zinchenko were all pictured in the team's first training session.
You can view Manchester City's pre-season fixture list in full here .
Which Bayern Munich players will take part in ICC 2018?
Germany's early exit from the World Cup in the first round is good news for American supporters, and has given the opportunity for Bayern Munich players to participate in the ICC in full – as a large majority of their squad represent Die Mannschaft.
The likes of Mats Hummels, Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer are all set to feature in their first ICC match which will be played nearby at the Klagenfurt Stadium in Austria on July 21, before flying out to Philadelphia to face Juventus on July 25.
They then face Premier League champions Manchester City in Miami on July 28 to cap off their American tour.
Colombia international James Rodriguez will likely not feature in the ICC after his side were eliminated in the quarter-final round by England, though Robert Lewandowski will be expected to play after his Poland side were knocked out in the group stage.
You can view Bayern Munich's pre-season fixture list in full here .
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