Florida Cup Ultimate Guide

The Florida Cup is the largest international soccer celebration that takes place each year in Florida. This article will provide you with all of the information you need to know about the Florida Cup. You will be able to find information on:

• When the Florida Cup takes place
• Where the tournament will happen
• Which teams are playing
• Where you can buy tickets
• Healthy & safety protocols
• Information about surrounding events

Florida Citrus Sports is proud to host this lively event at Camping World Stadium, with teams from all around the world coming together to play each other.

What is the Florida Cup?

The Florida Cup is an annual soccer event where clubs come together for a friendly exhibition competition in Florida, United States. The first Florida Cup was held in 2015 and has featured teams from the top 100 in the European rankings as well as teams from the top 50 in the South American rankings. The format of the Florida Cup changes each year pursuant to the participating clubs’ league schedules.

This event is the largest annual soccer event in Florida and is a top preseason soccer competition. CEO Ricardo Villar recently said in an interview that Orlando is a prime location for international leagues based on Orlando’s diverse population. This event creates a unique opportunity for the top teams from both Europe and South America to be able to play each other.

The Florida Cup brings the soccer world together. The demand and appeal of it shows that this tournament has been able to become an event with an atmosphere that has taken shape into more than just a soccer tournament. The activities have expanded into concerts, legends matches, fan activities, 5Ks, footgolf games, and a week filled with events for families and people of all ages. The agenda creates a participatory event allowing its attendees to not just be a spectator. It is an experience that makes this tournament around soccer unique.

Florida Citrus Sports is a proud partner of the Florida Cup and is something that Villar has boasted is an incredible opportunity for both organizations. The hunger for big international events has helped support the incredible growth. The Florida Citrus Sports family allows the Florida Cup to reach the next level to create the market for Florida Cup’s growth. Florida Cup’s growth means major European teams joining the Florida Cup, including Arsenal and Everton. These European football clubs only have a break in the summer, which provides them with the perfect opportunity to participate in the Florida Cup. The Florida Cup is now able to bring the world together with teams from Europe, Asia, the United States, and South America. 

Ricardo’s vision for the Florida Cup is “to not only showcase the Florida Cup as a preeminent event in the international soccer calendar, but further solidify Orlando as THE destination for global football, as demonstrated by the region’s bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

While this year’s event is going to be somewhat different than the events of previous years because of COVID, there will still be plenty of events and things to do that are fun for the whole family.

When and Where is the Florida Cup Being Held?

The Florida Cup will have two match days on July 25, 2021, and July 28, 2021. Each match day will have doubleheader matches with the first match beginning at 6:00 p.m. EDT and the second match beginning shortly after the conclusion of the first at 8:30 p.m. EDT.The first day will consist of semifinal games. The second match day will feature a consolation game for the two losing teams and the championship match between the two winning teams.

The first day will consist of semifinal games. The second match day will feature a consolation game for the two losing teams and the championship match between the two winning teams.

The matches will be played at Camping World Stadium.

Which Teams are Playing in the Florida Cup?

The following Florida Cup matches are happening on Sunday, July 25, 2021:

Everton FC vs. Millonarios FC at 6:00 p.m. EDT

Wednesday’s doubleheader kicks off at 6 p.m. ET when Everton meets Pumas, making its Florida Cup debut. Later that night at 8:45 p.m. ET, Millonarios and Atlético Nacional add to their storied rivalry when they meet for the 280th time and the first in the United States.

Everton FC is based in Liverpool and competes in the Premier League as well. The club was founded in 1878 as St Domingo FC. The club’s roots are loosely related to a Methodist New Connexion Congregation. Everton’s top rival is Liverpool, whose stadium is less than one mile away from Everton’s stadium. The top player at Everton FC right now is James Rodriguez (midfielder). Other key players include Dominic Calvert-Lewin (forward), Richarlison (forward), and Yerry Mina (defender).

Millonarios FC is a professional Colombian football club based in Bogotá, Colombia. The team plays in the Categoría Primera A and has their home games in El Campin stadium. The club was created in 1937 by students from Colegio San Bartolomé. One of their biggest rivals is Bogotá’s Santa Fe. Top players from this team include Fernando Uribe (forward), Christian Arango (forward), and David Macalister Silva (midfielder).

Atlético Nacional was founded in 1947 as Club Atlético Municipal de Medellin. One of the most successful teams in Colombia, they have won 16 Categoría Primera A championships, two Copa Libertadores titles, four Copa Colombia championships, and two Superliga Colombiana championships.

Club Universidad Nacional, better known as Pumas, was formed in 1954. They are one of the most successful teams in Mexico with seven Liga MX championships, one Copa MX title, two Campeón de Campeones championship, and three CONCACAF Champions League titles.

Where Can I get Florida Cup Tickets?

General admission tickets for match between Everton and Millonarios at 6pm on July 25 are available here.

Camping World Stadium is located in Orlando, Florida, in the West Lakes neighborhood of Downtown Orlando. The stadium is west of the Amway Center, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and Exploria Stadium. The stadium has a capacity of 65,000 people and has recently enhanced its fan experience by providing every fan with wider, chair-back seats at every level within the stadium.

This website features an awesome tool where you can see the view from your seat.

What are the Health and Safety Protocols at Camping World Stadium?

Camping World Stadium has made recent changes to its policies to ensure all visitors’ safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. These policies include:

• Hand Sanitization: The stadium is equipped with touchless hand sanitization stands around the stadium and at all entry points, elevators, escalators, along concourses, in private suites, premium spaces, and various common areas. All visitors are encouraged to use hand sanitizer throughout their visit to the stadium.

The stadium has also upgraded the facility to include the following enhancements:

• Increased Frequency of Cleaning: Camping World Stadium has partnered with Owens Services, a cleaning and sanitizing company. This company has significantly increased how frequently common areas and high-touch surfaces, such as elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, vending machines, and bathrooms are cleaned. The team has also dedicated specially-trained staff to sanitize each of these areas more thoroughly.
• Cashless Environment: Campus World is consistently working with our service partners to transition to a cashless environment. This environment means that credit cards, debit cards, and mobile devices (such as Apple Wallet, Google Pay, etc.) are the preferred payment methods for food and beverage purchases as well as purchases for merchandise and tickets.
• Staff Training: We require service training for all staff members and also provide ongoing education and each of the latest COVID-19 policies and procedures. We ensure that our staff and partners are always up-to-date with the best practices and are able to safely work in the new COVID-19 environment.
• Improved Air Ventilation: Our skilled and dedicated operations teams have upgraded many of our building systems to generate a safer environment for anyone who visits the stadium. These significant upgrades include increased ventilation with outdoor air rather than recirculated air, increased HVAC cleaning frequency, and air filter replacements. These steps maximize the fresh air exchange and maintain optimal humidity indoors, based on scientific research, in order to reduce the chances of viruses surviving in the air or on surfaces. We have also installed UV lighting within applicable HVAC units.
• Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star Facility Accreditation: Camping World Stadium received a Global Biorisk Advisory Council STAR Facility Accreditation. This award affirms that the venue’s level of commitment to the proper COVID-19 cleaning protocols, maintenance of a program that minimizes the risk of infection, and training for cleaning professionals on proper preparation and cleaning techniques, as well as our response, is up to their standards. The GBAC STAR certification is commonly known as the industry standard, serving as a seal of approval that Campus World Stadium is prioritizing the health and safety of every patron, staff member, or other visitor or worker at the stadium.

Camping World Stadium has also implemented a clear bag policy, allowing each patron to bring items only in a clear bag. Specifically, you can bring:

• “Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12.” [30.5cm x 15.25cm x 30.5cm]
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
• Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bags.”

Read more about this policy on our Plan to Visit A-Z Guide.

The Florida Citrus Sports organization is committed to creating the safest environment possible. The City of Orlando, Florida Citrus Sports, and Camping World Stadium prohibit the following items from being brought into the stadium:

• Air horns
• Backpacks
• Bottles
• Cameras with detachable lenses and/or lenses 6 In. or longer
• Cans
• Carts
• Coolers
• Cycles
• Drones
• Fireworks
• Hard containers
• Illegal drugs
• iPads
• Laptops
• Large bags
• Laser pointers
• Masks
• Megaphones
• Outside food & beverage
• Pets (except service animals; see “Animal Policy” above)
• Poles longer than 12″
• Seat cushions that have pockets, zippers, compartments or covers are not permitted.
• Seat cushions that have rigid frames are not permitted. Soft, flexible seat cushions without pockets may be carried into the stadium.
• Selfie-Sticks
• Signs with indecent or derogatory comments/images, political statements, and commercial references
• Signs larger than 11″ x 17″
• Skates
• Skateboards
• Tablets
• Unauthorized solicitation, handbills, giveaways, or sampling
• Umbrellas
• Video or audio recorders
• Weapons of any kind

IIf you have any of these items on you upon arrival at the stadium, you can rent a mobile locker for $10 outside of the Camping World Stadium at the corner of Church St. and Rio Grande Ave.

Parking for the Florida Cup

There are a few different parking options that visitors can choose from. All of the details you need to know can be found on this A-Z Guide page under “Stadium Parking.”

To summarize, on gamedays, each stadium parking lot is manned and reserved for permit parking, recreational vehicles, chartered buses, and disabled parking. However, public parking is also available on a presold basis through Ticketmaster. If you do not have a prepaid permit, then you will not be allowed to drive on stadium roads on game day.

You can also find public parking at downtown surface lots and garages. If you park downtown, you can use the free shuttle to get to and from the stadium.

For recreational vehicle (RV) parking, you can purchase RV parking for game day only. These parking areas are located in Lot 6 for the Florida Cup. All tow vehicles will require a standard car permit. There are no hookups, facilities, or dump stations on the parking grounds. Dumping in the stadium parking lots is strictly prohibited. Vehicles must have a smoke stack. Spaces are 40 inches x 25 inches.

Charter bus parking is made available on an event-by-event basis and sold through Florida Citrus Sports. Guests who will be utilizing public downtown bus transportation can ride the free gameday shuttle to the stadium. Please contact Florida Citrus Sports for more information.

Disability-accessible parking is in Lot 10. You must have an official state-issued disability parking tag and parking permit for admission into these lots.

You can find Camping World Stadium’s full parking and tailgating policies here.

What Other Events Go Along with the Florida Cup?

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be able to host as many events this year. However, there will still be plenty of fun, outdoor activities for everyone including families.

In past years, there have been several fun events that go along with the Florida Cup. Some of those vents have included things like:

• Legends Match – This is a 5-on-5 match between soccer legends from varying teams.
• YouTubers/Influencers Match – This year, the Legends Match and the YouTubers/Influencers Match will be merged into a single Florida Cup All-Star Match. The date and location will be announced closer to the event. This will not be a ticketed event so all are free to attend!
• Footgolf – This fun, unique combination of soccer and golf is a sport where players try to kick a soccer ball into a cup on a golf course in as few shots as possible. The Florida Cup hosts this fun event where a handful of players from each team essentially play golf by kicking soccer balls on each hole of the golf course (with a much bigger hole to get the ball in). Check out some highlights from last year’s footgolf game here!
• An FC Talks Speaker Series

Because of COVID-19 some of these events might be a little different than they have in the past. We're working on all of the details right now and will update this page as soon as we know more!

What Kind of Travel Packages Are Being Offered?

We offer various travel packages to make your Florida Cup experience as seamless as possible. These packages include tickets and hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort as well as airfare from Columbia and more. Here are the details you should know about:

• Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations

If you already have your game tickets, Universal Parks & Resorts is currently offering travel packages to help you make the most of your stay in Orlando. You can combine your hotel and theme park tickets to create a complete Universal Orlando Resort experience. If you stay for additional nights, you will be able to save more.

• Kaluah Tours

Schedule tours through our partner while you are attending the Florida Cup. Receive discounts by bundling your Florida Cup tickets with a stay at Universal and theme park tickets.

• Aviatur

If you’re traveling from Colombia, we have partnered with Aviatur so that you can create a custom package to make your trip planning worry-free.

To reserve a vacation package to Universal Orlando and the Florida Cup, or for additional information, please contact your preferred travel professional.

Don’t hesitate to contact our US and Latin American teams for press inquiries and stay up-to-date with all of the Florida Cup’s mentions in the news!