ORLANDO, Fla. (July 2, 2022) — Orlando Pride (2-5-2, 8 points) is set to face off against Racing Louisville FC (2-4-3, 9 points) on Sunday, July 3, at 8 p.m. ET at Daytona International Speedway as part of the inaugural DAYTONA SoccerFest. The match is set to be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
“It is going to be a great event for both parties,” Assistant Coach Seb Hines said. “[Racing Louisville] have some threats. They have some experienced players in terms of Gemma Bonner and Jess McDonald, who we have to be aware of. Looking back on our last game, we have some things to improve going into this game. There has been a different mindset in training sessions and expression that our fundamentals need to be better. The players have shown this in the training sessions since we came back from the break. Really excited for the game, it is going to be a great event for all involved. Looking to get three points and, technically, get our first win at home.”
Sunday’s fixture will see both teams participate in the first-ever DAYTONA SoccerFest. The two-day soccer and music festival will be held at the Daytona International Speedway, with the two teams capping off the weekend on the pitch in the trioval. The festival will also include performances from the “King of Modern Reggaeton” Rauw Alejandro and Chance the Rapper, as well as a legends game between the Americas and Europeans and a Fourth of July fireworks spectacular.
The game will be the first of two matches in the 2022 regular season between the two sides. Orlando and Louisville split the regular season series last year with both sides recording a 1-1-1 record. The first game finished in a 1-1 draw followed by a 3-1 victory by the Pride with both games being played at Exploria Stadium. Orlando was defeated by Louisville in the third and final matchup by a 3-1 scoreline at Lynn Family Stadium.
Prior to the international break, the Pride closed out a three-game road streak with a 6-0 defeat to the Portland Thorns, having played all of their matches in the month of June away from home.
Racing Louisville is coming off a 2-2 draw to the Washington Spirit thanks to a second-half brace from Nadia Nadim. Nadim has scored three goals in as many appearances as she works back to full fitness following a season-ending knee injury she suffered last year in a game against the Pride. Louisville holds an 0-3-1 record and has given up nine goals in their last four matches.
Both sides will be impacted by absences due to international duty, with Orlando’s Gunny Jónsdóttir currently competing with Iceland in the Women’s Euro Championship, while Louisville is missing four: Emily Fox (USA) and Satara Murray (JAM) who are at the Concacaf W Championships, and Nadia Nadim (DEN) and Rebecca Holloway (NIR) who are also at Euros.
Following Sunday’s contest, the Pride will return home to Exploria Stadium to take on the Houston Dash. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. ET with tickets available here or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
