FIFA World Cup

STATS PREVIEW: Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC – 17.03.2024

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

The MLS schedule makers certainly haven’t made it easy on Orlando City SC with Oscar Pareja‘s Lions now flying north above Interstate 75 to visit rivals Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in only our second away league fixture of 2024.

Embarrassingly humbled 5-0 at fellow rivals Inter Miami in our last MLS away fixture, City supporters are demanding a much more professional, committed, and gutsy performance this time around. But this will be anything but straightforward, not just because of The Five Stripes’ packed 40,000+ home crowd but because of our current state of mind.

City not only lost 2-3 to Minnesota United in MLS last Saturday but also got eliminated from the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup on Tuesday. Defeated 4-2 on aggregate by Tigres UANL in the Round of 16 stage, it’s truly been a miserable start to the year for Orlando City SC, whom much more was expected of, albeit facing a tough and unforgiving schedule to kick off our 2024 campaign. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC – 02.03.2024

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

After a frustrating 0-0 draw against CF Montréal in our 2024 MLS home opener last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now contest one of the biggest games on this year’s schedule – an away trip to Fort Lauderdale to face fierce Florida rivals Inter Miami.

This year’s Sunshine Clásico falls earlier than ever before with the Lions hoping to achieve the mouthwatering prospect of defeating Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and co in The Herons’ own backyard at Chase Stadium. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target Luis Muriel?

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Taking a temporary break from the dramatic transfer saga surrounding Duncan McGuire, there was a new name linked with a winter switch to Orlando City SC yesterday as the Lions reportedly line up a new striker to replace the 22-year-old.

Yesterday evening, Italian journalist and transfer expert Rudy Galetti tweeted that Orlando City SC are among the clubs “seriously interested” in signing Atalanta’s experienced Colombian international striker, Luis Muriel. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Oscar Pareja’s new Orlando City SC contract through 2025

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

“It’s done” as Frodo Baggins famously said in the Lord of the Rings! After guiding Orlando City SC to the MLS Cup Playoffs for four consecutive seasons, the hugely popular Oscar Pareja has now signed a new two-year deal, keeping our winningest head coach in club history at Exploria Stadium until at least the end of 2025.

During his four-year tenure in Central Florida, the 55-year-old Colombian has successfully turned around the Lions’ losing culture in Major League Soccer, so much so that City broke their own regular season records this year to finish runners-up to FC Cincinnati in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield despite having the lowest salary spend of all – a hugely impressive feat.

So far, the man affectionately known as Papi has built a genuine brotherhood in the City locker room, one that yielded silverware last year when Orlando City SC defeated Sacramento Republic 3-0 to win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at Exploria Stadium – our first major title as an MLS club. Continue reading →

2024 MLS SuperDraft preview: Reviewing Orlando City SC’s 31 draft picks since 2015

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

The MLS SuperDraft is the most exciting event in the lives of every young North American college soccer player.

With Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft getting underway tomorrow, Orlando City UK took this moment to reflect on how Orlando City SC‘s annual picks have fared since our inaugural 2015 season. Continue reading →

Orlando City UK celebrates our seventh birthday: 2022 round-up

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Wow, what an incredible 2022 we’ve had! Today, we’re celebrating our seventh birthday here at Orlando City UK with our Official International Fan Club of Orlando City SC established seven years ago.

In our eighth MLS season, 2022 was the year the Lions finally got their hands on their first major silverware. Triumphantly winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, our loyal UK supporters keenly supported every step of the way from the United Kingdom. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Facundo Torres’ call-up to Uruguay’s 2022 FIFA World Cup squad

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Yesterday, on a busy news day for Lions fans, Orlando City SC‘s Facundo Torres was named in Uruguay’s final 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

A landmark moment in our 22-year-old Designated Player’s career, Orlando City UK gathered the best tweets following the official announcement from the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF). Continue reading →

5 things you need to know about our 2023 CONCACAF Champions League opponents Tigres UANL

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Yesterday, Orlando City SC were drawn against tough Liga MX opponents Tigres UANL in the two-leg Round of 16 stage of the 2023 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.

With City participating in the competition for the very first time, Oscar Pareja‘s side are joining North America’s elite by virtue of our triumphant 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s Jhegson Méndez joining Los Angeles FC

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Orlando City SC‘s MLS Secondary Transfer Window has really heated up with Jhegson Méndez departing Exploria Stadium for Los Angeles FC today.

City have acquired $300,000 in 2022 General Allocation Money from LAFC for “Sebas” who joined the Lions in 2019 and made 72 MLS appearances. Continue reading →

INTERVIEW: When Orlando City UK met Orlando City SC’s Tesho Akindele

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Before Orlando City SC vs FC Dallas on Saturday, we exclusively interviewed current City forward and Canadian international Tesho Akindele to preview the game.

We also speak to Tesho about the Lions’ 2022 MLS season so far, seeing Canada qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, plus his answers to a series of miscellaneous quick-fire City questions. Continue reading →