Orange County to Host World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team During Victory Tour
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined community leaders on Monday to announce the highly anticipated U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) Victory tour match against Brazil, which the U.S. defeated in the recent World Cup competition. The historic soccer rivals are set to face off on Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. at the Orlando Citrus Bowl.
“We’re so excited that the world-champion U.S. Women’s Soccer team and their Brazilian counterparts are coming to Central Florida,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. “The physical fitness and capabilities of these athletes is simply remarkable, and their commitment to teamwork sets a wonderful example for us all – especially for our young people. It’s such an honor to have been selected as the location as part of their Victory Tour. I can’t wait to help fill the Citrus Bowl on October 25 for these world-class athletes.”
The USWNT will return to the Orlando Citrus Bowl for the first time since the U.S. defeated Brazil in November 2013, when more than 20,000 fans attended. The match was the highest attended match for the USWNT that year. Orange County has witnessed a tremendous amount of support for soccer, especially since the Orlando City Soccer Club made their Major League Soccer debut.
“Central Florida continues to grow into an international hub for professional soccer and it’s a great honor for us to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions with our partners,” said Orlando City Founder and President Phil Rawlins. “Considering the massive support for top-caliber soccer in Central Florida, we will continue evaluating all opportunities to bring the highest levels of the sport to the market.”
The U.S. team has a long history in Orlando, which was the training base for the U.S. team for the 1995 and 1999 Women’s World Cups and the 1996 Olympics. The USA played two matches at the Citrus Bowl during the 1996 Olympics.
“We are proud to continue giving our community the soccer it craves,” said Mayor of Orlando Buddy Dyer. “It’s very evident that the soccer legacy has grown exponentially over the years, and opportunities like this one with the U.S. Women’s National Team will only strengthen Central Florida’s prominence on the global soccer scene.”
In late June, an international friendly match between Mexico and Costa Rica took place at the Orlando Citrus Bowl – marking the Mexican team’s first visit to Orlando since the 1994 World Cup. More than 54,000 supporters attended that event.
Tickets for the October 25 match against Brazil will go on sale on Friday, August 21 at 10 a.m. A special pre-sale offer will be provided to Orlando City Season Ticket Members.
A collection of photos from the USWNT announcement may be found on Flickr for use by the media.