Fulham FC will meet Aston Villa FC at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium on the evening of Wednesday, July 26. The clubs will face off as part of the Premier League Summer Series, hosted locally by the FC Series.
"We are delighted to be bringing six clubs to the USA in July for the first-ever Premier League Summer Series," Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said. "Our clubs have incredible supporters in the US, who passionately follow their teams throughout the season.”
The event marks the first time the League has hosted a preseason tournament in the United States, giving US-based fans the opportunity to watch a world-class lineup of players and managers in action. The Premier League previously hosted preseason matches in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand via the Premier League Asia Trophy, a biennial tournament launched in 2003.
This year’s Orlando exhibition comes on the heels of a tremendous local showing for a Premier League Mornings Live fan festival, which saw 10,000 fans come together in January to share their passion for Premier League competition at Universal Orlando Resort.
“We have seen this dedication first-hand from the tens of thousands who have attended our Mornings Live fan events and are excited to be building on this by bringing live Premier League action to five cities this summer,” Masters added. "We are currently enjoying one of the most competitive Premier League seasons of all time at both ends of the table and I am sure we will see some thrilling matches during the tournament."
In addition to the tournament, the League will work closely with a range of grassroots and community organizations in each host city — including FC Series — to create a program of community and youth soccer initiatives.
"We're thrilled to be working with the Premier League to stage the inaugural Premier League Summer Series in Orlando this summer," Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan said. "From last July's record-breaking Florida Cup between Arsenal and Chelsea to the staging of Premier League Mornings Live at Universal Orlando Resort in January, our city has been a 'home away from home' for the biggest names in global football. We look forward to welcoming fans to Exploria Stadium later this year."
The FC Series is the national expansion of the Florida Cup, the Sunshine State’s largest annual international soccer and music event. Arsenal, currently atop the Premier League table, kicked off its 2022 FC Series appearance last July with a friendly win over Orlando City at Exploria Stadium before the Gunners’ victory over the Blues set a new soccer attendance mark at Camping World Stadium (63,811).
Tickets for the Aston Villa-Fulham match in Orlando will be available via presale on Tuesday, April 25, at premierleague.com/SummerSeries, with general sales opening Wednesday, April 26.
All Premier League Summer Series games will air on the networks of NBCUniversal and Peacock, with international licensees broadcasting the event around the world in up to 188 countries. A complete list of Premier League Summer Series matches is available at the bottom of this advisory.
Additional 2023 FC Series matches and event details will be announced in due course.
Longtime FC Series supporter Universal Orlando Resort also returns as a major event partner in 2023 and will welcome participating teams, select media and traveling fans throughout the event at Universal's three epic theme parks — Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal's Volcano Bay — and its extraordinary resorts collection.
CONTACT:
Sam Gardner (Florida Citrus Sports/FC Series)
407.423.2476 ext. 117, sgardner@fcsports.com
Premier League Summer Series 2023 schedule (all kickoff times local)
Saturday, July 22 — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 1: Chelsea FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC (7 p.m.)
Sunday, July 23 — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 2: Fulham FC vs Brentford FC (4 p.m.)
Match 3: Newcastle United FC v Aston Villa FC (7 p.m.)
Wednesday, July 26 — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 4: Brentford FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC (5:30 p.m.)
Match 5: Chelsea FC v Newcastle United FC (8:15 p.m.)
Wednesday, July 26 — Exploria Stadium, Orlando
Match 6: Fulham FC v Aston Villa FC (7 p.m.)
Friday, July 28 — Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
Match 7: Brighton & Hove Albion FC v Newcastle United FC (7:30 p.m.)
Sunday, July 30 — FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
Match 8: Aston Villa FC v Brentford FC (12:00 p.m.)
Match 9: Chelsea FC v Fulham FC (2:45 p.m.)
About the Premier League
The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 880 million homes in 188 countries.
About Florida Citrus Sports
Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events, including the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, the Cheez-It Bowl, the Florida Blue Florida Classic, the FC Series and the Camping World Kickoff. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.
About Florida Cup / FC Series
The largest annual international soccer event in the Sunshine State, the Florida Cup is a global platform that combines sports, music and entertainment. In 2021, the event's international TV audience reached over 5 million unique viewers. 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, with global viewership approaching 8 million fans. For more information on the FC Series, visit FCSeries.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
About Universal Orlando Resort – Where It’s More Than Magic, It’s Real
Universal Orlando Resort is an award-winning theme park destination that welcomes all to truly be themselves while enjoying world-class attractions that redefine theme park experiences. Here, a multitude of authentically thrilling, exciting and spontaneous adventures await – each inviting guests to embark on whatever vacation they crave while igniting their full range of emotions like never before – from the awe of walking the streets of Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the rush of adrenaline that takes over when coming face-to-face with a Velociraptor in Jurassic Park to the wide-eyed joy of seeing an entire slice of cake atop a delectable milkshake at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen.
The 700-acre resort is home to three exhilarating theme parks – Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay – that boast some of the most innovative and immersive experiences ever created, with a fourth next-level theme park, Universal Epic Universe, on the way. Guests can also relish in exciting dining and entertainment at the Universal CityWalk entertainment complex and enjoy incredible accommodations and magnificent theming across eight hotels that offer something for every style and budget – Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal’s Aventura Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside and Dockside Inn and Suites.
For more information about Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.universalorlando.com.