Lions

Twitter reacts to… Zakaria Taifi signing a first team contract with Orlando City SC

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After progressing through our development pathway, Academy and Orlando City B product Zakaria Taifi has today signed a first team contract with Orlando City SC.

The 19-year-old defender has penned a deal through 2026, with club options for 2027, 2028, and 2029. Born and raised in Orlando, the American defender of Moroccan heritage is the latest in a long line of players to rise through the ranks at Orlando City SC.

A standout in MLS NEXT Pro, Taifi not only becomes our latest Homegrown Player. He’s also our eighth first team signing this year after Colin Guske, Nicolás Rodríguez, Carlos Mercado, Marco Pašalić, Eduard Atuesta, Joran Gerbet, and Gustavo Caraballo. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Orlando City SC – 07.05.2025

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ROWDIES, TELL ME HOW IT FEELS! 📢 You know the rest! 😉 A Florida feud reignites this Wednesday as Orlando City SC travel to Al Lang Stadium to face old USL rival Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. It’s a nostalgic return to the competition that delivered our first MLS-era silverware in 2022, and die-hard Lions couldn’t be happier to be back – especially after City were controversially excluded from last year’s diluted edition due to Leagues Cup scheduling.

Personally, I’m thrilled we’re back, having boycotted the 2024 Leagues Cup in protest. Even better, Orlando City SC have a real shot at lifting the cup this year. With just 16 MLS sides controversially included this time, the field is wide open. Especially with big boys Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew not taking part! Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 03.05.2025

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Orlando, we’re coming to c̶o̶n̶q̶u̶e̶r̶ roll over! 😜 After a tough few weeks, Orlando City SC returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 derby victory over Atlanta United at Inter&Co Stadium. Piling the pressure on Ronny Deila, the result extended the Lions’ unbeaten run to seven games and restored some much-needed momentum heading into a busy stretch. Now, Oscar Pareja’s side will look to climb the Eastern Conference standings against Chicago Fire, who were just thumped 7-2 at Nashville SC. It was an embarrassing loss for Gregg Berhalter against his former USMNT assistant, B.J. Callaghan.

With confidence growing and key players finding form, City will now look to build on their fourth consecutive clean sheet. Another positive result on the road would keep the pressure on the teams above and further underline the Lions’ growing belief as the campaign hits its stride. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira’s Orlando City SC promotions

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(Credit: Orlando City SC)

Just eight days after Oscar Pareja signed a new three-year deal as Orlando City SC head coach, yesterday saw Luiz Muzzi promoted to Senior Advisor to Ownership, Global Soccer Ventures and Ricardo Moreira to the role of General Manager & Sporting Director.

Luiz Muzzi, formerly Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations & General Manager, and Ricardo Moreira, formerly Vice President of Soccer Operations & Technical Director, received their most recent promotions in February 2024.

In short, this dynamic Brazilian duo have played a pivotal role in driving City’s player recruitment and propelling the club’s upward trajectory since they joined ahead of the 2019 season. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Atlanta United – 26.04.2025

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We couldn’t stop scoring in our first six MLS games – now it’s three without a goal. Football’s a funny old game! Orlando City SC may have extended their unbeaten streak to six matches (2-4-0), but last Saturday’s 0-0 draw at CF Montréal felt just as frustrating as our stalemate against New York Red Bulls. Following our third straight scoreless outing and Rafael Santos’ red card, Oscar Pareja’s Lions return to Inter&Co Stadium to face fierce rivals Atlanta United in a matchup that’s always action-packed.

Still reeling from last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at 10-man Philadelphia Union – and last season’s Eastern Conference Semi-Final exit at our hands – Atlanta will be out for revenge. But while they’ve spent big – dropping a league-record $22 million on Emmanuel Latte Lath – their results have fallen well short of expectations. With both teams desperate for goals and momentum, another fiery edition of this Florida-Georgia feud awaits. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC – 19.04.2025

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Orlando City SC just extended their unbeaten MLS streak to five matches (2-3-0), but we left last Saturday’s scrappy 0-0 draw with New York Red Bulls feeling frustrated. Still preserving a second successive shutout despite Rodrigo Schlegel’s red card, Oscar Pareja’s Lions now travel north of the border to face CF Montréal in chilly Quebec. Right now, Papi is at a tactical crossroads: stick with his cautious 3-4-2-1 or revert to our familiar 4-2-3-1? Either way, we must now cope with Rodrigo Schlegel’s one-game suspension.

CF Montréal enter this match scarred from a 0-1 defeat to Charlotte FC in their long-delayed 2025 home opener last Saturday. Winless in eight games and still bottom of the East, they’re continuing to adjust under interim head coach Marco Donadel, who stepped in following the dismissal of Laurent Courtois on March 25. This is just CF Montréal’s second home game at Stade Saputo in 2025, following seven straight on the road – a yearly tradition to avoid Quebec’s harsh winter. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Oscar Pareja’s new Orlando City SC contract through 2028

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After guiding Orlando City SC to the MLS Cup Playoffs for five consecutive seasons, the hugely popular Oscar Pareja signed a new three-year deal yesterday. Penning his last contract extension in December 2023, this new deal keeps our winningest head coach in club history at Inter&Co Stadium until at least the end of 2028.

Over his five-and-a-bit years in Central Florida, the 56-year-old Colombian has successfully turned around the Lions’ losing culture in Major League Soccer. His impact was clear last season, when City reached their first-ever Eastern Conference Final. Although we suffered a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to New York Red Bulls, we came within touching distance of our first-ever MLS Cup. That narrow defeat has only fuelled our hunger and determination to go one better this year – and bring the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy home.

So far, the man affectionately known as Papi has built a genuine brotherhood in the City locker room. That bond paid off three years ago when Orlando City SC defeated Sacramento Republic 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium to win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final – our first major title as an MLS club. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… the 2025 Orlando City SC Adidas One Planet pre-match top

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To commemorate Earth Day on April 22, the Orlando City SC players will be warming up in a special Adidas One Planet pre-match top – made with 100% recycled Parley Ocean Plastic™.

Unlike previous MLS seasons, these awareness raising kits will only be worn as a pre-match top for warm-ups and not in competition like they were in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC – 05.04.2025

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Orlando City SC’s flair for the dramatic was on full display last Saturday. And given the venue, it was truly a Hollywood ending! On the night, a late surge saw the Lions secure a 1-2 comeback win at LA Galaxy – marking Oscar Pareja’s 200th match in charge and City’s second straight victory at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Having just achieved back-to-back MLS victories, the Lions now head to Subaru Park with revenge on their minds. Philadelphia Union’s 2-4 win on opening night remains Orlando City SC’s only home loss of 2025, but with City’s attack firing on all cylinders and confidence soaring after our first road win of the season, there’s no reason to fear this challenge. Meanwhile, Union are looking to bounce back after a 2-1 loss at Inter Miami, setting the stage for another intense Eastern Conference clash. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs D.C. United – 22.03.2025

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Orlando City SC’s defensive struggles continued last time out, as the Lions let two leads slip in a frustrating 2-2 draw at New York Red Bulls. While Martín Ojeda and Marco Pašalić produced moments of brilliance, soft goals at the other end proved costly once again. On a positive note, Luis Muriel has been more effective this season, helping the Lions adopt a more direct attacking style under Oscar Pareja.

Now, City return home to Inter&Co Stadium, facing Troy Lesesne’s unbeaten D.C. United side (1-3-0) who drew 0-0 with CF Montréal last weekend. With Pedro Gallese away on international duty, young keeper Javier Otero is set for a big opportunity, while Duncan McGuire’s return from injury offers us a timely boost. Continue reading →