Oscar Pareja

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Portland Timbers – 24.05.2025

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Orlando City SC host Portland Timbers this Saturday in our second cross-conference MLS fixture of 2025. While we’ve faced Phil Neville before – going 4-2-1 against his Inter Miami side – this is our first meeting with him as Timbers boss.

Riding high off our stunning 0-3 win at Inter Miami, our momentum just took a big hit! Eliminated from the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last night, losing 2-3 to Nashville SC in the Round of 16, fatigue and tired legs told. With Orlando squeezing NINE fixtures into May, this gruelling month is a real test of our fitness, mentality, and squad depth. Now, we must regroup and dig deep against talented opposition. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – 21.05.2025

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FLORIDA IS PURPLE!! 😈😏 I don’t know about you but I’m still on a HUGE high after last night! Our 0-3 demolition of Inter Miami at Chase Stadium was a statement win – and our first-ever against Lionel Messi! Oscar Pareja’s Lions have surged from eighth to fifth in just two MLS gameweeks, extending our MLS unbeaten streak to 11 matches – just one shy of our longest MLS run (12 matches, Aug-Oct 2020). With dominant shutout derby wins over Atlanta United (3-0), Tampa Bay Rowdies (0-5), and now Inter Miami (0-3), Papi is masterminding important victories against all the sides we love to hate. So, massive credit to him, the coaching staff, and the players!

Now, focus shifts to this crucial Round of 16 Open Cup tie against Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium. Our first home game in the competition since winning it on September 7, 2022, this is a key chance to push for a second U.S. Open Cup title in four seasons. With the likes of Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew absent, Orlando City SC’s strong form makes a deep cup run very achievable. And make no mistake – we’ll be taking this tournament very seriously as we look to add more silverware to “The Vault”! Continue reading →

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: Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC – 18.05.2025

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TEN games unbeaten sounds much better after a win, right? Orlando City SC found their spark on Wednesday with a convincing 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC, snapping a frustrating run of five draws in six. It was the kind of complete display Oscar Pareja has been demanding — and just in time.

Because next up? It’s Inter Miami away in the first Sunshine Clásico of 2025! Not just any fixture, this is our first ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ appearance of the season, with all eyes on Chase Stadium. As painful as it is to recall, we were thrashed 5-0 there last March. So, this time, we have to do ourselves justice! At the end of the day, real heart, fight, and passion is non-negotiable in MLS Rivalry Week. Continue reading →

Orlando City UK member Josh Keeble’s experience as Orlando City SC thrash Tampa Bay Rowdies 0-5

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Follow City Away!
By Orlando City UK member, Josh Keeble

A few weeks ago, when Orlando City SC announced their 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup date with bitter I-4 Derby rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies, I knew there was absolutely no way I would let such an opportunity pass me by.

A gap in university deadlines, (relatively) affordable flights, and a first visit to Al Lang Stadium in eleven years all meant that, regardless of the result, the trip made complete sense. And then we went and beat them 0-5! Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New England Revolution – 10.05.2025

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Back to Inter&Co Stadium we go – but after four 0-0 draws in our last five MLS outings, can someone please find the net? Orlando City SC extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches last weekend, but it was another frustrating stalemate at 10-man Chicago Fire. Thankfully, our I-4 Derby win (0-5) over Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday served as a timely morale booster.

Now, it’s time to turn our resilience into results – but that’s easier said than done. New England Revolution visit Central Florida in red-hot form, riding a four-game winning streak. Moreover, both sides boast stingy defensive records too. City haven’t conceded in 530 minutes, while the Revs are on a 393-minute shutout streak – so something has to give. Let’s just hope it’s not another goalless grind! 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 →