Flamengo Returns to the USA for 2025 Preseason with the FC Series
ORLANDO, Florida — Clube de Regatas do Flamengo will return to Florida to prepare for the 2025 season, which includes the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for June and July. The club’s preseason tour will once again be part of the FC Series, a collection of friendly matches featuring top global soccer clubs.
Flamengo will begin their preseason in Gainesville, Florida, training at the University of Florida's state-of-the-art athletic facilities. The team will then head south to Fort Lauderdale to face São Paulo FC in a friendly match on January 19 at Chase Stadium. Flamengo will also train at the Florida Blue Training Center, Inter Miami’s training facility, before returning to Brazil on January 24 to continue their season.
"Holding our preseason outside of Rio de Janeiro allows us to bring the entire team together for the necessary physical, technical, and tactical training, in addition to focusing on the mental aspect of the players. During this time, they will be fully dedicated to training, resting, and preparing," said Filipe Luís, head coach of Flamengo.
"Having this preseason in such an important location, with such impressive facilities, will be key to strengthening the group and preparing us for the challenges ahead throughout the season. This is the time to bond the team and build strong relationships, both on and off the field. It will also be an opportunity to welcome new players who may join us and give a chance to young talents from the academy who may move up with us during this period," added Filipe Luís.
A previous Florida Cup participant in 2019, Flamengo also visited the Sunshine State for a pair of FC Series matches during the club's January 2024 preseason tour. Following a 2-1 win over MLS side Philadelphia Union in St. Petersburg, the Mengão also played Orlando City to a 1-1 draw in front of 22,678 fans at Orlando's Inter&Co Stadium — a record crowd for a friendly at Orlando City's traditional home venue.
“It’s always an honor to welcome Flamengo back to Florida,” said Ricardo Villar, CEO of FC Series. “Flamengo is setting the standard by using January to prepare with excellence for what will be a unique calendar in 2025. We hope the team is drawn to play here again during the FIFA Super Club World Cup in the summer—it would already feel like a home match.”
Founded in 1895, Flamengo is one of the most popular and successful soccer clubs in Brazil. With a rich history, a commitment to excellence and over 40 million supporters, Flamengo has consistently been a dominant force in Brazilian football. The club won its third Copa Libertadores title in 2022 and has also claimed the Brasileirão Série A title 8 times, the Copa do Brasil 5 times, and the Intercontinental Cup once.
“Spending part of our preparation period at a renowned institution like the University of Florida, with its rich tradition in American sports, allows the club to strengthen ties with thousands of college students who will be returning to campus during this time. We have no doubt that Flamengo fans will show up in force for the FIFA World Cup, just as they did in Orlando this January. However, it’s crucial to connect with new strategic audiences in the process of internationalizing our brand,” noted Gustavo Oliveira, vice president of communications and marketing for Flamengo.
With the addition of Flamengo to the January 19 match against São Paulo FC, the lineup for the January edition of the FC Series is now set.
2025 FC Series Matches (January)
01/15 – Cruzeiro vs. São Paulo – Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
01/18 – Atlético vs. Cruzeiro – Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
01/19 – São Paulo vs. Flamengo – Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/25 – Orlando City vs. Atlético – Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
Ticket information for all matches is available now at FCSeries.com. Tickets for the January 19 match will go on sale to the public starting Wednesday, Dec. 5. Follow the FC Series on social media for updates on games, ticket sales, and additional preseason events in the U.S.
The July edition of the FC Series, which has been a success for the past four years, featuring top European clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Barcelona, is also confirmed for 2025. Details about participating teams will be announced in the first quarter of 2025.
About Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Flamengo is the greatest soccer brand in Brazil. The club, recognized by its iconic red and black jersey, is known for having the biggest number of supporters in the whole planet - more than 48 million fans worldwide. Established in 1895, Flamengo has won many titles in multiple sports during those 128 years. In football, the most loved sport in our country, we have won 8 Brazilian Leagues, 4 Brazilian Cups, 37 Rio state leagues, 3 Libertadores Cups and the 1981 FIFA Club World Cup. The biggest names in Brazilian soccer history have played for Flamengo, including Zico, Junior, Leonardo, Romario, Socrates, Adriano and even Pelé, once, in a friendly match.
Nowadays the club is known for having the most professional structure in the national scenario. After years of planning and money-saving, Flamengo is now unleashing its full potential by attracting bigger sponsors and spending that money in infrastructure improvements and players. The restructuring years have turned into trophies: last season, the club once again became state, national and continental soccer champions. Among the olympic sports, Flamengo won the rowing, basketball, gymnastics and synchronised swimming national championships.
About the FC Series
The largest annual international soccer event in the Sunshine State, the FC Series is a global platform that combines sports and entertainment. In 2023, the event was broadcast live to over 100 countries. Across social networks, content posted by official event pages and shared worldwide reached more than 100 million people. In 2022, the event expanded to the FC Series featuring multiple matches across the United States. For more information on the FC Series, visit FCSeries.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
