Brazilian Club Fluminense FC U23 Squad Completes the
Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic Lineup
Fluminense U23 join six Major League Soccer (MLS) teams including MLS Cup Champion
Sporting KC, Supporters Shield Champion New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Columbus
Crew, Montreal Impact, and Toronto FC, along with USL Pro Club Orlando City to complete
the eight-team field; Tickets on sale now.
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The Brazilian Fluminense FC U23 team
will round out the Walt Disney World
Pro Soccer Classic field at the ESPN Wide
World of Sports Complex.
Fluminense FC, one of the top soccer
clubs in Brazil, joins the New York Red
Bulls, Toronto FC, Sporting KC, Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew, Montreal Impact and Orlando City soccer clubs
in the eight-team field. Teams begin arriving in Central Florida on Feb. 19 for
three weeks of pre-season training camp
and competition, culminating with the
Disney Pro Soccer Classic title game on
Mar. 1 at 8 pm.
Fluminense FC is one of the world's leaders in talent development. The club
is not only responsible for selling world
soccer stars like Thiago Silva on to Europe to AC Milan, but also developing
several currently renowned players such
as Marcelo (Real Madrid), Rafael (Manchester United) and his twin brother Fabio (Manchester United).
“This is a great addition to the tournament and gives us one of our strongest
fields in the five-year history of Pro Soccer Classic,’’ said Disney Sports Director of Sports Development Mike Millay.
“ We have always looked to strengthen
the tournament year after year and with
our world class facility and event management staff we feel this event will give
the teams a unique training camp experience that hopefully will launch them
toward successful seasons.
"We are proud to be the first Brazilian
team invited to compete in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic,’’ said Fluminense President Peter Siemsen. “We
see the U.S. as a fast growing market,
strategic in our international plans for
the club during the next couple years.
Our goal is to continue to develop these players and we’re looking forward to
playing great MLS competition."
Entering its fifth year, the Disney Pro
Soccer Classic is designed to boost interest in soccer throughout Central Florida
and establish the area as a prime training
and competition destination for pro soccer clubs. Last year, the event at Disney
attracted fans from across the U.S. and
Canada and gave them a unique opportunity for an intimate fan experience at a
world-class facility.
The tournament is just one of more than
a dozen popular soccer events held annually at ESPN Wide World of Sports
Complex, which is the leading multi-sports venue in the nation and the official
preseason training home of the AS Roma
Fluminense Director of Operations Mar- soccer club.
celo Teixeira added, "The quality of play
in the United States is improving each For more information on the Disney
year. It is physically more demanding Pro Soccer Classic, visit www.espnwwos.
than in Brazil. It is most similar to the com/prosoccerclassic. Tickets for the
European game, where players have less event are on sale today through Tickettime on the ball. The opportunity for our master.com, search “Pro Soccer Classic”
younger players to compete at this level is or by calling 800-745-3000. Travel pafantastic and compliments the final stage ckages are available through GetTravel.
of their development as professionals." com. The packages may include accommodations near Walt Disney World ReThe Disney Pro Soccer Classic field will sort, game tickets, ground transportabe split into two groups. Group A featu- tion and discounted Disney theme park
res Orlando City, Philadelphia, Colum- tickets.
bus and Toronto. Group B includes New
York, Montreal, Sporting KC, and Fluminense.