Special Events

Special Events Abound during 2017 Florida Cup

From Magic Kingdom Parades, to I-Drive NASCAR and Orlando Magic Shooting Challenge – Players will be Engaged throughout Central Florida!

The Florida Cup, the largest annual international soccer tournament in the Sunshine State, will host several special events throughout Central Florida with players representing each of the Clubs participating in the tournament. 

The Florida Cup Fan Fest will kick off on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 with an opening ceremony, and concludes on Saturday, Jan. 21. The festival will run every day of the tournament, featuring family friendly activities, team events and live music including evening shows. The Fan Fest is one of several activities planned throughout Orlando in January that will commemorate this major sporting event, and drive additional awareness and economic benefit to Central Florida. In addition to Florida Cup Fan Fest at I-Drive 360, the following events will take place:

Shootout Challenge with the Orlando Magic

WHEN: Jan. 6 and Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. ET

WHERE: Amway Center, Downtown Orlando

DESCRIPTION: Soccer superstars will test their basketball skills during halftime of the Orlando Magic games next month. One representative or player from each Florida Cup team will participate in the Shootout Challenge during halftime of each game.

Champions Parade at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

WHEN: Jan. 13 and Jan. 20 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Disney Magic Kingdom

DESCRIPTION: The most famous parade in the world on the happiest place on earth, featuring representatives and players from teams participating in the Florida Cup.

WHEN: Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. ET

WHERE: I-Drive NASCAR

DESCRIPTION: This event will begin with players and special guests participating in preliminary races in the morning, setting up a final race featuring a representative from each Club in Florida Cup, five qualifying guests and former Formula One and IndyCar Series driver Rubens Barrichello in the afternoon.

Copa Footvolley

WHEN: Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. ET

WHERE: Oasis Club House at Champions Gate

Arrival: 10 a.m.

DESCRIPTION: Footvolley is a version of beach volleyball played with without hands. Florida Cup has organized a tournament featuring ambassadors of each Florida Cup team and two qualifying guests. The event will take place in a beach-like setting.

Florida Cup All-Star Charity Match

WHEN: Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. ET

WHERE:  UCF Soccer Stadium

DONATION: A $10 donation for admission per person will be collected. Funds will go directly to help the families of the victims in the tragic airline disaster that affected the Brazilian side Chapecoense.

DESCRIPTION: Four teams of 15 players comprised of former international soccer stars and celebrities will compete in a playoff format for the title of Florida Cup All-Star.

Footgolf Tournament

WHEN: Jan. 18 – Kickoff at 9:30

WHEN: The Champions Gate Golf Clubhouse

DESCRIPTION: A combination of golf and soccer, Footgolf will be played on a modified course with a soccer ball. Each foursome will have a representative from the Florida Cup teams.

PARTICIPANTS: Team representatives, sponsors, VIPs and fans (limited spots available).

CAUSE: The footgolf tournament concludes with a charity event, with every dollar collected going to help the families of the victims in the tragic airline disaster that affected the Brazilian side Chapecoense

Florida Cup matches will be played from January 8^th to January 21^st, 2017, in Orlando, St Petersburg and Ft Lauderdale.The tournament’s opening match in 2017 will feature Argentine powerhouse Estudiantes de la Plata with the return of former Manchester United and national team legend Juan Sebastián Verón, against top Bundesliga club and major UEFA Champions League contenders Bayer 04 Leverkusen, led by Mexican star Javier “Chicharito” Hernández.

Tickets to the 2017 Florida Cup are still available for purchase at www.floridacup.com. An updated website has been launched for the 2017 tournament. Fans are encouraged to check the site for updates, as well as follow the tournament on social media through Facebook (@FLCup), Instagram(@florida_cup) and Twitter (@florida_cup).

The Florida Cup has become the largest annual sporting event in Florida after only two editions with live broadcasted matches to 171 countries in 2016, a number expected to be broken in 2017. The event this year brings 12 clubs from seven different countries, totaling a fan base of over 100 million fans.

The Florida Cup features two distinct formats in 2017:

●  FC Challenge – A Davis Cup-modeled competition similar to the format during the Florida Cup’s debut in 2015, with Clubs representing Countries, each vying for points to secure the tournament title for their home nation. This phase will occur from Jan. 8 – Jan. 15.

●  FC Playoff – A single-elimination round of international teams where only one remaining champion will thrive. This phase will occur from Jan. 15 – Jan 21.

About the Florida Cup:

The Florida Cup is the largest international sporting event held annually in Central Florida. Broadcast live in 2016 to over 170 countries, the tournament reached an audience of over 40 million viewers in South America. Globally recognized soccer clubs from four different continents will convene in Central Florida for this premier tournament – a final tune-up before the start of their respective campaigns. For more information on the Florida Cup, visit www.floridacup.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.