Sports
Orlando Selected as Host City for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Matches
Published
5 months agoon

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN)— Orlando is set to enhance its reputation as a premier soccer destination, with FIFA announcing that both Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium will host matches during the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This tournament, featuring 32 of the world’s top clubs, will make its U.S. debut, kicking off on June 15, 2025, and culminating in the final match at MetLife Stadium on July 13.
The announcement, revealed during the Global Citizen Festival in New York City, underscores Orlando’s growing prominence as a hub for major sporting events. Recently named the nation’s top city for event hosting by Sports Business Journal, Orlando stands out as the only city in the tournament to feature matches across two venues. Inter&Co Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Orlando Pride, has a strong track record, having hosted Copa America 2024 and various high-profile events, including Brazilian club Flamengo’s appearance during the Florida Cup.
Camping World Stadium has also seen significant action, drawing 60,016 fans for the Allstate Continental Clásico, a high-stakes matchup between the U.S. and Brazil Men’s National Teams, and a sold-out crowd of 63,237 for a friendly between European powerhouses Barcelona and Manchester City.
Local leaders are excited about the opportunity to showcase Orlando on a global stage. Mayor Buddy Dyer emphasized, “We look forward to presenting Orlando as a top-tier destination for fans and FIFA delegates alike,” while Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings noted, “This prestigious event highlights our community’s ability to shine and reinforces our commitment to world-class sports and entertainment.”
The FIFA Club World Cup will be the largest stand-alone global club football event ever staged in the United States. The draw for participating teams is set for December, with one team from South America and one representing the host country still to be confirmed. Fans interested in attending can register for ticket and hospitality information at FIFA.com/tickets.
With a rich history of hosting major soccer events, including U.S. Men’s National Team World Cup Qualifiers and the NWSL Championship, Orlando is poised to provide an unforgettable experience for fans and clubs from around the world during this historic tournament.
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Kareen Kennedy is the Assistant Editor for Florida National News
kareen.kennedy@floridanationalnews.com
Sports
Salsa Icon Marc Anthony Attends 2025 Miami Open with Wife Nadia Ferreira
Published
2 days agoon
March 23, 2025By
Willie David
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (FNN) – Florida National News captured Latin music icon Marc Anthony and his wife, Nadia Ferreira, as they attended the 2025 Miami Open on March 21 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The couple watched as Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic defeated Australian Rinky Hijikata in an exciting match.
Marc Anthony, a global ambassador of Latin music, is a nine-time Latin Grammy Award winner with 28 nominations, according to the Latin Recording Academy. His presence at the prestigious tennis tournament added to the event’s star power, drawing attention from fans and media alike.
The Miami Open, one of the premier tennis tournaments in the world, continues to attract top-tier athletes and celebrity spectators each year, further cementing its status as a must-watch sporting event.
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J Willie David, III and Roman Garay
Florida National News and FNN News Network
News@FloridaNationalNews.com
Sports
Orlando City’s Offense Explodes in Historic 4-1 Victory Over D.C. United
Published
2 days agoon
March 23, 2025By
FNN SPORTS
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Orlando City SC (2-2-1, 7 points) delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over D.C. United (1-1-3, 6 points) on Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium, handing the visitors their first loss of the season. In a historic performance, all three of the Lions’ Designated Players found the back of the net in the same match for the first time in club history.
Offensive Explosion Fuels Orlando City’s Victory
Orlando City wasted no time setting the tone, breaking through in the 21st minute when Luis Muriel connected on a header off a cross from Alex Freeman, assisted by Iván Angulo. The Lions doubled their lead in the 44th minute, courtesy of a deflected strike from Martín Ojeda after Angulo disrupted D.C.’s defense.
The second half saw continued dominance from the home side. Freeman found the net in the 50th minute with a header off a free kick delivered by Ojeda. Marco Pašalić sealed the deal in the 56th minute, curling a spectacular left-footed shot into the top corner, earning him the Heineken Star of the Match.
D.C. United managed to get on the board in stoppage time (90+1′) when Lukas MacNaughton headed in a goal, assisted by Christian Benteke and Rida Zouhir.
– FNN Sports 2025 Miami Open Coverage
Historic Night and Key Performances
Martín Ojeda recorded his 24th and 25th career assists, tying with club legend Nani for second-most in team history.
Luis Muriel netted his second goal of the 2025 season, bringing his total to seven across all competitions for Orlando City.
Homegrown goalkeeper Javier Otero made his first career MLS start, recording four saves and securing his first win.
Alex Freeman (20 years, 227 days) became the second-youngest player in club history to register a goal and assist in a single match, behind only Daryl Dike.
What’s Next for Orlando City?
The Lions will now prepare for a cross-country showdown with the defending MLS Cup champions, LA Galaxy, on Saturday, March 29, at Dignity Health Sports Park. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET and will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
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Monica Hoyos and Harry Castiblanco
Florida National News and FNN News Network
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Sports
Porsche Penske Triumphs at 73rd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring; Tandy Secures Triple Crown
Published
1 week agoon
March 16, 2025By
Willie David
SEBRING, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – A historic sports car race added another memorable chapter to international motorsports history on Saturday night as Porsche Penske Motorsport captured a commanding win at the 73rd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Nick Tandy secured his place among endurance racing legends by becoming the 10th driver to win the prestigious Triple Crown of Endurance Racing: the Rolex 24 At Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and 12 Hours of Sebring. Tandy’s victory completes his career “Tandy Slam,” having also won at Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps.
Tandy, driving the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, shared the victory with teammates Felipe Nasr and Laurens Vanthoor. The trio had also won the Rolex 24 At Daytona earlier this year. For Tandy, this marks his fourth Sebring win (previously GTLM – 2018, 2019, 2020), while Nasr (DPi – 2019) and Vanthoor (GTD PRO – 2023) each claimed their second Sebring victory.
Porsche Dominates IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
The No. 7 Porsche made history as the first car to win back-to-back IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races at Daytona and Sebring in the same season since Wayne Taylor Racing’s 2017 feat with a Cadillac DPi-V.R.
The Porsches surged late in the race, capitalizing on cooler night conditions to outperform the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R. The No. 7 Porsche crossed the finish line 2.239 seconds ahead of its sister car, the No. 6 Porsche, driven by Mathieu Jaminet, Matt Campbell, and Kevin Estre. The No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-06 claimed third.
Class Winners Shine at Sebring
- Inter Europol Competition claimed the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) victory with the No. 43 ORECA LMP2 07, driven by Tom Dillmann, Bijoy Garg, and Jeremy Clarke. Strategic pit stops and a late-race incident helped secure the win.
- AO Racing dominated the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class with the No. 77 Porsche 911 R GT3 (992), driven by Laurin Heinrich, Klaus Bachler, and Alessio Picariello.
- Winward Racing repeated its 2025 Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class victory with the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3, driven by Russell Ward, Philip Ellis, and Indy Dontje. Ellis’ aggressive late-race pass secured the win.
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J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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