The Florida Cup, the largest annual sporting event in Florida, today announced the teams and details for the 2018 tournament. The tournament now enters it’s fourth year and this year it will be in partnership with Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Orlando is among the largest sponsors of the tournament and the theme parks and the brand new water park “Volcano Bay” will be the location for the “Fanfest”, a celebration that will feature performances by internationally renowned artists.
Fans can now purchase travel packages that include game tickets, hotel accommodations within the Universal complex as well as tickets to theme parks, through the official travel partner of the Florida Cup, the Kaluah Tours, on the site www.kaluahtours.com.
“The official launch of the Florida Cup 2018 takes place today. We are only 90 days from the first game between Corinthians and PSV in Orlando,” said the CEO of the Florida Cup, Ricardo Villar. “There is no better way to celebrate another tournament edition to announce big clubs and our new partner, Universal Orlando. We are sure that this brand is to add value to our competition, and ensure unique experiences for our audience.”
“We are excited to work with the Florida Cup, eager to host the teams and their fans and to show all that Universal has to offer,” said Marcos Barros, Senior Director of Marketing & Sales of Universal Orlando Resort – Latin America. “This partnership is the perfect blend of international football, passionate fans and entertainment, enabling us to continue connecting with our audience in new ways.”
The partnership was announced early on Monday at Universal CityWalk and included representatives of the Florida Cup and Universal, as well as ambassadors of clubs participating in the tournament, including the former Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita and PSV legend Willy van de Kerkhof.
Clubs that have confirmed participation in recent weeks are: Rangers FC (ESC), Atletico Nacional (COL), Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (BRA), Clube Atlético Mineiro (BRA), PSV Eindhoven (NED) and Barcelona SC (EQU). Fluminense FC (BRA) and Legia Warsaw (POL) were also announced today.
“We are very happy for the invitation made to us to participate in the Florida Cup. Fluminense had already participated in the first editions, in 2015 and 2016, and has always had an extremely satisfactory return. The club receives full support of the organization in relation to logistics , accommodation with excellent infrastructure and excellent working conditions. I see that the competition grew even more, the competition level is very high. it is undoubtedly a unique tournament that offers the best preparation in the world at this time of year. the Florida Cup will give my team a very good parameter of what we can find in the rest of the year,”said Abel Braga, Fluminense coach.
“Our goal is always to provide quality football and high-level entertainment for fans. As for the teams, we focus on providing training venues of excellence and international exclusive clashes. No wonder that on the eve of the fourth edition, Florida Cup is established as an unmissable event in the international football calendar, “concluded Ricardo Villar.
Florida Cup 2018 format – Schedule:
The Florida Cup 2018 will take place between 10th and 20th January 2018. Each club plays two games in a straight forward league format. Winning earns three points, losing gets nothing and in the case of a draw, the clubs will get a point but a winner will be decided by penalty kicks and that team will then gain an additional point. The complete schedule of games is available below and also on the website www.floridacup.com .
A special pre-sale tickets for the Florida Cup will be held on October 20. To participate, fans must register in www.floridacup.com.
The game tickets will be sold to the general public from October 21.
Game |
Date |
Confrontation |
City |
game 1 |
January, 10 |
SC Corinthians v PSV |
Orlando |
game 2 |
January 11 |
Clube Atlético Mineiro v Rangers FC |
Orlando |
game 3 |
January 12 |
PSV Eindhoven v Fluminense FC |
Orlando |
game 4 |
January 13 |
Barcelona SC v Legia Warsaw |
Fort Lauderdale |
game 5 |
January 13 |
Ranger FC v SC Corinthians |
Orlando |
game 6 |
January 14 |
National Athletic v Atlético Mineiro |
Orlando |
game 7 |
January 15 |
Fluminense FC v Barcelona SC |
Orlando |
game 8 |
January 20 |
Legia Warsaw v Atletico Nacional |
St. Petersburg |