ORLANDO, Fla –Dec. 18, 2015 – Orlando City’s 2003 Pro Academy team will compete against the world’s best U-12 teams at the XX LaLiga Promises International Tournament of Miami as a part of the LFP World Challenge program.
The prestigious tournament will occur from Dec. 27-29 at the Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove, Fla. Fans are invited to attend the tournament for free. Selected matches will be televised and streamed online on beIN Sports. Further information will be announced in the near future.
“We are honored to be among four American teams and only one of the two MLS clubs chosen to participate in this event. To face off against some of the most respected clubs in the world at the youth level is a great experience for the players, staff, and Club,” said Orlando City 2003 head coach Craig Melton. “We feel our players will go in and compete well. We train them at a high level and this tournament will be a great challenge for us. This will be a big part of their development.”
In its 20th edition, the prestigious competition will gather 16 of the best young squads in the world, featuring the promising sides of Orlando City SC, Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Atlético Madrid SAD, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus FC, RC Celta de Vigo, Sevilla FC, Valencia CF, Villareal CF, Club America de México, Crystal Palace FC, Estudiantes de la Plata, Sagan Tosu, Aspire Academy, Weston FC and Chicago Fire SC.
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City is located in Group C, alongside Atlético Madrid SAD, Juventus FC, RC Celta de Vigo and Estudiantes.
Orlando City 2003, which is comprised of U-12 and U-13 players from the Orlando City Youth Club, will kickoff its quest for the title on Sunday, Dec. 27 against Spanish side RC Celta de Vigo, followed by a match against Argentinian club Estudiantes, before taking on Italian squad Juventus FC. The Lions will then face Spanish team Atlético de Madrid SAD on Monday, Dec. 28. Orlando City's Pro Academy Team plays three matchs tomorrow: vs. RC Celta Vigo at 10:15, vs. Estudiantes de la Plata at 11:45 and vs. Juventus FC at 12:45.
The top two teams of each group will qualify for the quarterfinals, which will be played on Monday afternoon. The semifinals and final will take place on the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 29.
The LFP World Challenge is a program created in 2014 by the Spanish Professional Football League (LaLiga) with the support of the Spanish Government, the National Sports Council and the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade.
