Latin Times Magazine Vol 14 No 4 | Page 10

latino news bites WORLD CUP CHAMPION USWNT TO FACE BRAZIL AT ORLANDO CITRUS BOWL ON OCTOBER 25, Friendly part of a 10-Match Victory Tour Central Florida soccer fans can chalk up another milestone this year as the U.S. Women’s National Team returns to the Orlando Citrus Bowl for the first time since 2013 as part of the 10-match Victory Tour to celebrate the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship. Orlando City Soccer Club and the City of Orlando, with the support of the Central Florida Sports Commission and Florida Citrus Sports, have partnered to host the World Cup champions as they face historic rivals and current sixthranked global soccer power Brazil on Oct 25. Kick-off is set for 3 p.m. ET. Tickets go on sale on Friday, August 21 at 10 a.m. ET through ussoccer.com “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. In late June, an international friendly 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. Over 54,000 supporters attended that event. It is anticipated 10 that Central Florida will once again show their support for the reigning Women’s World Cup champions. “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.” “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 \