The Wall

Open letter: Orlando City UK, my baby, and my farewell (kind of!)

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Ten years is a lot doing anything! 😮 And it takes real dedication to stick around so long. Luckily for me, these past ten years have been some of the best of my life, growing and nurturing Orlando City UK.

Orlando City UK has been my baby since November 2015 – a labour of love, obsession, and way too much caffeine. A little fun fact – when I first joined Twitter (X) in 2015, the @orlandocityuk handle was already taken. I reached out to the owner and explained my plans to cover the team, but he politely declined. So I went with @Orlando_CityUK – and from that moment, I was fully committed to covering all things Orlando City SC.

But life has a way of reminding you that you can’t do everything forever. There comes a time when balance matters more than ambition, when priorities shift, and the next chapter calls louder than the one you’ve been living. So here’s the big news first. In 2026, I’m going to become a DAD! 💜 Amazing, right? With Baby Williams arriving in June, our journey has been extremely difficult. But we’re incredibly grateful that our second round of IVF was successful. My wife, Christie, and I want to thank the team at Care Fertility, as well as our family and friends, for their constant support over the past four years. It’s been the perfect way to end 2025, and we’re both excited for what promises to be a huge 2026 – with maternity and paternity leave timed just right for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 😉

Orlando City UK isn’t going anywhere, but content will be far more reduced. That means no more weekly Stats Previews, live blog commentaries, and transfer articles. Instead, I’m choosing to be kinder to myself by taking more off my plate. I’ll still be around – cheering, writing, and sharing. But with a lot less energy, more sleepless nights, and an exciting new focus on our own little Lion cub. 🦁 Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC – 28.09.2025

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THE CARDIAC CATS ARE BACK, BABY!! 🫀🦁 And just in the nick of time! Duncan McGuire’s last-gasp winner against Nashville SC wasn’t only massive for him personally. It could prove huge in our push for a top four home playoff spot. When Jacob Shaffelburg made it 2-2 after our hard-earned 2-0 lead, every Lion felt that familiar sinking feeling.

But credit to the boys – and to McGuire – for playing to the whistle, keeping the belief, and snatching what might be a season-defining goal. A trademark poacher’s finish, it was McGuire’s first City strike since May 24, and it keeps our playoff hopes alive heading into the final four games. Next up is a tough trip to TQL Stadium, where Pat Noonan’s FC Cincinnati are pushing hard in the 2025 Supporters’ Shield race. In our third ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ slot of the season, let’s hope we can make it back-to-back wins after busting our five-game winless slump. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Al-Kholood signing Ramiro Enrique from Orlando City SC

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

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After César Luis Merlo broke the story on August 29, Orlando City SC have announced that Ramiro Enrique has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Kholood in a deal reportedly worth $3.3 million. While the MLS Secondary Transfer Window closed on August 21, the Saudi window remains open until September 10, giving the club time to reinforce their squad. Tom Bogert tweeted that the move is the “third-highest outbound transfer in Orlando City history”, behind Facundo Torres ($14 million) and Daryl Dike ($9.5 million). And given that Enrique never fully secured a regular starting spot at centre forward, the Lions clearly couldn’t turn down the offer.

Joining from Banfield ahead of the 2023 campaign, Ramiro Enrique quickly won over The Wall with his tireless, street-fighter style up front. Though not a consistent starter, he displaced Luis Muriel and Duncan McGuire midway through last season, setting a new club record with six consecutive games scoring. His standout moment came in the 2024 Eastern Conference Semi-Final against Atlanta United on November 24, when he scored his first-ever playoff goal on 39 minutes – enough to send Orlando to their first-ever Eastern Conference Final.

Overall, Enrique made 102 appearances (43 starts) for City across all competitions, scoring 26 goals and providing 7 assists. Renowned for his intelligent movement, tireless work ethic, and clinical finishing, we wish Ramiro all the best in Saudi Arabia. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Toluca vs Orlando City SC – 20.08.2025

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

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HOW ABOUT THAT RAIN DELAY? 😮⛈️ Huge credit if you stuck it out past midnight to see Orlando City SC beat Sporting Kansas City 3-1. It definitely wasn’t our best game. But the Lions turned it on after the break with The Wall staying loud despite the marathon wait.

Oscar Pareja’s 100th career win for City, we’re now unbeaten in 7 straight across all competitions (6-1-0). And, we’re just 5 points off new Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati (52). Peaking at the perfect time, we’re back in the Supporters’ Shield hunt too, trailing San Diego FC (52) by 5 points also. Now attention turns to Carson, California, where a 2025 Leagues Cup semi-final spot is on the line against Toluca. Exciting times for Orlando, indeed! Continue reading →

Orlando City UK member Josh Keeble attends Orlando City SC’s 2-4 win at St. Louis CITY SC and 1-2 loss to FC Cincinnati

/ Josh Keeble / Leave a comment

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

It’s been a few days since I landed back in London after my latest trip stateside, and it’s probably fair to say it was my most hectic yet!

When Major League Soccer released the 2025 schedule at the start of the year, one fixture in particular stood out as a must-see. That fixture was Orlando City SC’s first-ever visit to St. Louis, Missouri, conveniently scheduled in the middle of summer when I was finally unshackled from university commitments.

The St. Louis CITY SC game, though, was just one of seven sporting events I attended last week, as my ambition to make the most of this trip drained me both physically and financially. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: LA Galaxy vs Orlando City SC – 29.03.2025

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

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Are you not entertained? Recency bias aside, I think we just witnessed one of Orlando City SC’s most complete MLS performances, dismantling an unbeaten D.C. United side (1-3-0) with a dominant 4-1 victory at Inter&Co Stadium. On Javier Otero’s first MLS career start, the Lions were ruthless in attack, with Luis Muriel, Martín Ojeda, and Marco Pašalić continuing their fine form. For the first time in club history, all three of our Designated Players scored in the same game – making Facundo Torres’ absence feel surprisingly manageable. What is this sorcery? Am I dreaming?

Having scored the most goals (13), yet conceded the second-most goals (11) across MLS this season, City now head cross-country to face defending MLS champions LA Galaxy in Carson, California. This is a matchup that could have been the 2024 MLS Cup Final! But Greg Vanney’s side are experiencing a shocking title defence. Galaxy are winless (0-2-3) this season, holding the worst-ever record for a defending MLS champion through five games. Most recently, they salvaged a late 2-2 draw at Minnesota United, but the Lions will be looking to capitalise on their shaky form. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… the new 2025 Orlando City SC home jersey

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

(Credit: Orlando City SC)

After much anticipation, the new 2025 Orlando City SC away jersey – “The Perfect Storm Kit” – has now officially been unveiled. The release comes prior to a Jersey Launch Event taking place tonight at 1401 Florida Mall Ave, 32809 as part of our “Kickoff to Soccer” activation.

Revealing the new look of our home purple just 10 days before facing Philadelphia Union in our 2025 MLS home opener, The Perfect Storm Kit is our sixth home jersey design in Major League Soccer and will be worn in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Continue reading →

Orlando City SC off-season roundup: Bruseth out, new home kit leaked, and Torres to Cruz Azul?

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

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Orlando City SC are in the midst of significant transformations as Major League Soccer’s 2024 off-season continues to unfold. With roster changes and strategic decisions shaping the future of the club, it’s an exciting and pivotal time for Lions fans.

This past week has been nothing short of eventful, with a flurry of news that has kept supporters eagerly anticipating what’s next. In this weekly roundup, we’re recapping the key headlines and stories that defined the week of December 9-13. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s crushing 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs defeat to New York Red Bulls

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

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⚠️ Warning; this blog comes with a disclaimer. ⚠️ Before you read any further, we’d like to warn you that there is a high probability that you risk upsetting yourself all over again as we delve deep into Orlando City SC’s crushing 0-1 home defeat to New York Red Bulls last night in our first-ever Eastern Conference Final in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. There won’t be a recap video from Orlando City UK today, as I’m too downhearted to get in front of the camera and dissect last night’s loss. 😔 Heck, I switched off my Apple TV stream on the full-time whistle, eager to avoid seeing New York Red Bulls parade the Eastern Conference Trophy around Inter&Co Stadium. 🤢 Instead, we hope our write-up provides some comfort and clarity, if any at all, ahead of another off-season of reflection.

When we joined MLS in 2015, it was for nights like last night. The electric atmosphere, the high stakes, and the hope and anticipation swirling in the air. Even the sky was purple on our biggest MLS night yet! But unfortunately, the moment passed us by. So much hope and so much expectation – now evaporated in an instant. One goal, one match, one missed opportunity. And just like that, the dream is over for another year.

Oscar Pareja is a great coach, no doubt, and someone I respect and admire deeply. For what it’s worth, I want him to stay! But ultimately, MLS Cup will continue to elude him until his teams start scoring when it really counts in knockout games. That’s the painful truth. Personally speaking, I’ve been so close yet so far, supporting Arsenal, Orlando City SC, and England these past few years. My pain is palpable right now. Why does our attack never seem to do anything when it really matters in the playoffs? It’s a question we’re all asking ourselves this morning as the sting of last night’s loss lingers.

But there’s a glimmer of hope. With no CONCACAF Champions Cup to contend with in 2025, following two consecutive tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024, Orlando City SC have a real opportunity to hit the ground running next season. With a reduced schedule and fewer crunch games at the start of a new year, perhaps we can get off to a better start, push further, and rectify our shortcomings in next year’s playoffs.

I know you probably won’t want to hear it right now, but Orlando City SC truly have come so far since our disappointing early years in Major League Soccer. Having once been perennial losers, we are now a seasoned playoff team, year in and year out. While MLS Cup frustrataingly continues to elude us, we are getting closer and closer. One day, it will be our time! With Oscar Pareja already signed to a contract through 2025, and dynamic duo Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira each signed through 2025, we still have a talented and hungry team behind the team, so keep the faith and enjoy your off-season. Vamos Orlando! 😈 Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Atlanta United – 24.11.2024

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

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It’s time, Orlando! With potential 2024 MLS Cup glory just 270+ minutes away, Orlando City SC are on the cusp of reaching their first-ever Eastern Conference Final. Standing in City’s way are fierce Georgia rivals Atlanta United who visit Inter&Co Stadium this Sunday in a single elimination Eastern Conference Semi-Final. Both teams have played each other 21 times in MLS, but never in a playoff match, until now. With just eight teams remaining in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, the stage is set, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. This is what we’ve worked all season for – and now, it’s all about executing when it matters most.

After our heart-stopping game three victory over Charlotte FC in Round One, Orlando City SC have proven once again that we know how to handle pressure. Our thrilling 4-1 shootout victory (1-1 at full-time) saw us progress to our third-ever Eastern Conference Semi-Final, but this has been the end of the line twice before. Still carrying scars from our semi-final exits to New England Revolution (2020) and Columbus Crew (2024), it’s now up to Oscar Pareja’s Lions to go further than any Orlando City SC team has before. So, let’s be THAT team and say ‘why not us?’.

In Round One (game three), Facundo Torres’ buzzer-beater heroics and Pedro Gallese’s clutch penalty shootout saves were a testament to the grit and determination that define our team. With our momentum building, we’re hungrier than ever. Ultimately, Orlando City SC will never have a better opportunity to reach their first-ever MLS Cup. After all, the top three seeds in the Eastern Conference – Inter Miami (first), Columbus Crew (second), and FC Cincinnati (third) – shocked everyone by getting eliminated in Round One of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. If we can get past Atlanta United, Orlando City SC will host either sixth seed New York City FC or seventh seed New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium – a tantalising prospect with our fourth seed home advantage paying dividends.

Over the years, Atlanta United have been the bane of Orlando City SC’s existence. They not only won MLS Cup in their second-ever season (2018). Across all competitions, they also hold an impressive 11-7-4 all-time record against City since joining Major League Soccer in 2017. A team our supporters love to hate, it would be incredibly sweet to knock out The Five Stripes. We’d be one step closer to clinching what we’ve all yearned for since 2015 – that coveted Philip F. Anschutz Trophy and a first-ever MLS star above our crest! With a sellout crowd expected to pack out Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando City SC must be bold, focused, and disciplined. We can’t allow rash decisions, hot-headedness, and red cards to be our downfall like in post-seasons of old. Let’s show we’re #AllTeeth and ready to send Atlanta United packing! LFG. Vamos Orlando! 😈 Continue reading →