From Yahoo! News to Orlando Sentinel, international and local media outlets spotlighted Orlando’s summer of soccer, sharing with millions that The City Beautiful has what it takes to host the world’s greatest games.
AHEAD OF THE GAME
While other major cities are recovering from the pandemic, Orlando remains in a lane of its own, reimagining live sporting events with the NBA and MLS bubbles and earning its reputation as a game-changing destination for post-pandemic recovery.
Sports events and sports tourism in Orlando have shown to be the re-entry catalyst, generating new and much needed business.
Based on how many US games we've seen in Orlando lately, might want to start calling it the National Stadium.
@GRANTWAHL
MONTHSHEADSTART
on pandemic recovery, HostCity
TOURISMINDUSTRY
Orlando is the biggest in the US, SportsPro
MOST VISITEDDESTINATION
in the United States, GlobeNewswire
NFL’S MINNESOTA VIKINGS OWNERS INVEST IN ORLANDO
Orlando City SC announce Wilf family
as new majority owners
After completing the purchase of Orlando City Soccer Club and Orlando Pride in July, the Wilf family centered the club’s plans around four key ideas (The Athletic).
Building a championship and
Creating the best and most memorable
Giving back to the community in
Helping grow the game of soccer
Proposed host venues for the 7USMNT World Cup qualifiers:
@GRANTWAHL
Orlando becoming US soccer hub in pandemic era: Besides #uswnt friendlies and proposed #usmnt friendly this month, SheBelieves Cup expected to take place entirely at Exploria Stadium (3 doubleheaders ~ Feb 18-24 with Brazil, Canada, and Japan). Final details almost in place.
@GRANTWAHL
Last night on @SpecSprots360 @JonAlba and I talked about if Orlando has proven itself as a World Cup host city for 2026, on the heels of the #SheBelievesCup this week.
@GRANTWAHL
GO ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA REPORT
This first report contains highlights of just some of the excitement and international media coverage that Orlando has generated around soccer in recent months. It’s been a busy and successful lead up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ city selection…and there is more to come
‘IT WILL FOREVER BE KNOWN AS THE DISNEY MODEL’: HOW ORLANDO MADE THE NBA AND MLS BUBBLES A REALITY
When two of North America’s major leagues announced plans to restart in the same location, many doubted whether it could be done safely. As it turned out, no cases were recorded inside the NBA and MLS bubbles in Orlando, a city now synonymous with sport’s post-Covid recovery.
WORLD CUP ’26 HOST CITY HOPEFULS FINDING SELECTION PROCESS CLOAKED IN MYSTERY
JASON SIEGEL | 48-TEAM FIFA
WORLD CUP RAISES THE STAKES
FOR 2026 HOST CITIES
Jason Siegel, president and chief executive of Greater Orlando Sports Commission, argues that the city’s experience in staging closed-door NBA and MLS games puts it in a strong position to host matches at the 2026 Fifa World Cup
The extraordinary events of 2020 have made certain the most precious commodity in sport; every major event holder is seeking assurances that things will happen safely, on time, and within budget.
ORLANDO UPGRADES STADIUM TO BOOST ITS CREDENTIALS AS A POTENTIAL HOST FOR 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP
Work has started at Orlando’s famous Camping World Stadium as the city reinforces its unique appeal as a venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™.
AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOCCER’S GREAT GROWTH OPPORTUNITY – 2026 IS SURELY THE MOMENT THE DREAM BECOMES REAL.
2026 is “the second half” for soccer in the USA. It will enable us to fulfill our soccer agenda. It will provide the momentum to bring the sport into under-served communities, as we work with the US Soccer Foundation to inspire participation and teach life skills. To create a sense of community through the sport”. And hopefully the excitement and energized atmosphere of the approaching 2026 Legacy is not just a question – it is the question.
DECISION TIME: 2026 WORLD CUP
Orlando has a great story. We are the number one tourist destination in the US and we have sport in our DNA. We tick all the FIFA boxes
ORLANDO LIGHTS THE WAY FOR SPORT DURING COVID YEAR
GO ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL MEDIA REPORT
International media coverage of Orlando’s “summer of soccer” has increased focus on this buoyant city’s capabilities in organizing and managing soccer events, as Orlando hosts the Florida Cup and matches the Concacaf Gold Cup against a backdrop of rapidly recovering tourism and announces the Wilf family’s purchase of Orlando City and Orlando Pride.
ARSENAL, EVERTON HEADLINE FLORIDA CUP TOURNAMENT AT CAMPING WORLD STADIUM IN JULY
We're so happy to be able to bring such a powerful international lineup to Orlando as we connect Europe and South America once again at this summer’s event,
Channel 9 News (WFTV).
The 2021 Florida Cup tournament will be televised in more than 100 countries worldwide,
event organizers announced. In the U.S., the Florida Cup will air on ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes. The event, which features international clubs Everton, Millonarios, Atlético Nacional and Pumas, will take place on July 25 and 28 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
The broadcast partnerships for this year’s Florida Cup demonstrate the global appeal of our clubs and their star players. We are especially proud to showcase all that Orlando has to offer to millions of viewers around the world.
Channel 9 News (WFTV).
SPORT IS KEY DRIVER OF ORLANDO’S TOURISM RECOVERY
Al Kidd, President & CEO of Sports ETA, the international association for the sports events and tourism industry, is one of several influential voices hailing Orlando’s rapidly recovering tourism industry and identifying sport as a key driver.
TIM HOWARD TOPS
THE BILL AT THE PLAZA
Tim Howard was the star attraction at The Plaza Live Theatre in Downtown Orlando on Monday evening.
The former Blues keeper joined co-hosts Graham Stuart and Darren Griffiths on stage at The Plaza Live in Orlando’s trendy Milk District as he looked back over his glittering career in the company of more than 300 US-based Evertonians.
The evening also saw a surprise for Everton’s Ambassador in the US as Howard was named the inaugural inductee into the Premier League club’s North American hall of fame. The USMNT legend joined Dr David France in picking up a North American All Stars award which recognizes players, coaches and managers from the continent that have represented Everton, and also those who have a connection to the Blues and have played in North America, with a shocked Howard being named as the first winner of the prize at an evening held in his honour.
ORLANDO CITY SC ANNOUNCE WILF FAMILY AS NEW MAJORITY OWNERS
SPORT IS THE KEY DRIVER OF
ORLANDO’S TOURISM RECOVERY
Greater Orlando has a ten to twelve-month head start on many other major city travel destinations
WILF FAMILY FOCUSED ON
INVESTMENT IN ORLANDO CITY
Two weeks into their ownership of Orlando City and the Pride, the Wilf family is already putting its mark on the club. Co-owner and chairman Mark Wilf already helped to make his first coaching selection in his first week in the role...
WILF FAMILY LAYS OUT APPROACH
FOR ORLANDO CITY