Orlando will host a pair of international soccer friendlies ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Florida Citrus Sports announced on Thursday that Colombia will take on Croatia on March 26, which is followed by Croatia versus Brazil on March 31. Both games will be played at Camping World Stadium. “We couldn’t be more excited to host a pair of Road to 26 matches in Orlando this March,” said Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports. “Welcoming Brazil, Colombia and Croatia to Camping World Stadium brings world-class international soccer to our community, attracts global fan bases to Central Florida and builds on Orlando’s decades-long history of hosting the sport at the highest level. We can’t wait to kick off the action.”Colombia-Croatia is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. Croatia and Brazil are slated for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31.It’s the first time in recent history that Orlando will see three World Cup-bound teams play in Central Florida in the same year, leading up to this summer’s tournament. The friendlies are part of the Road to 26 Series, which will also see games played near the Boston and Washington D.C. area that same month. France will play Brazil at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, March 26 and will then take on Colombia on Sunday, March 29 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The March games will be Brazil’s first game back in Orlando since a June 12, 2024, friendly against the United States, which saw an announced attendance of 60,016 at Camping World Stadium. Tickets for the Orlando games are scheduled to go on sale on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m.With a $400 million renovation expected to start soon at Camping World Stadium, Hogan said they will have to work around the construction to accommodate somewhere north of 40,000 fans expected to attend the games in March. “We feel pretty good about probably three-quarters of the seating capacity being available in March for this,” said Hogan. “We’ll potentially have one upper deck online and the rest of the entire lower bowl.””Having this opportunity in the midst of construction is a win in of itself,” Hogan added. Hogan does not believe Camping World Stadium could host another international friendly before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in mid-June, citing construction. But did say plans for a friendly before the tournament is possible elsewhere with the assistance of FCS’ organizing partners. Last October, Orange County leaders with the recommendation from the Tourist Development Tax Sports Incentive Committee approved $1 million in sports incentive funding to Florida Citrus Sports for bid fees relating to the March games. Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.
Orlando will host a pair of international soccer friendlies ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Florida Citrus Sports announced on Thursday that Colombia will take on Croatia on March 26, which is followed by Croatia versus Brazil on March 31.
Both games will be played at Camping World Stadium.
“We couldn’t be more excited to host a pair of Road to 26 matches in Orlando this March,” said Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports. “Welcoming Brazil, Colombia and Croatia to Camping World Stadium brings world-class international soccer to our community, attracts global fan bases to Central Florida and builds on Orlando’s decades-long history of hosting the sport at the highest level. We can’t wait to kick off the action.”
Colombia-Croatia is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. Croatia and Brazil are slated for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31.
It’s the first time in recent history that Orlando will see three World Cup-bound teams play in Central Florida in the same year, leading up to this summer’s tournament.
The friendlies are part of the Road to 26 Series, which will also see games played near the Boston and Washington D.C. area that same month.
France will play Brazil at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, March 26 and will then take on Colombia on Sunday, March 29 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
The March games will be Brazil’s first game back in Orlando since a June 12, 2024, friendly against the United States, which saw an announced attendance of 60,016 at Camping World Stadium.
Tickets for the Orlando games are scheduled to go on sale on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m.
With a $400 million renovation expected to start soon at Camping World Stadium, Hogan said they will have to work around the construction to accommodate somewhere north of 40,000 fans expected to attend the games in March.
“We feel pretty good about probably three-quarters of the seating capacity being available in March for this,” said Hogan. “We’ll potentially have one upper deck online and the rest of the entire lower bowl.”
“Having this opportunity in the midst of construction is a win in of itself,” Hogan added.
Hogan does not believe Camping World Stadium could host another international friendly before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in mid-June, citing construction. But did say plans for a friendly before the tournament is possible elsewhere with the assistance of FCS’ organizing partners.
Last October, Orange County leaders with the recommendation from the Tourist Development Tax Sports Incentive Committee approved $1 million in sports incentive funding to Florida Citrus Sports for bid fees relating to the March games.
Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.