Flamengo and Philadelphia Union announce friendly match to inspire future generations

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA – Clube de Regatas do Flamengo will meet Philadelphia Union in an FC Series friendly match at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, on the afternoon of January 21, 2024. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. local time.

The match will be the first friendly for each club in preparation for the 2024 season. The game will also mark the meeting of two clubs with a tradition in developing world-class athletes, such as Vinicius Jr and Lucas Paquetá from Flamengo youth system, and the Aaronson brothers, Mark Mckenzie, and Auston Trusty from the Union Academy. To celebrate this meeting, both clubs invited up to 2,000 youth academy players from across Florida academies to attend the match. The clubs will also promote some experiences for youth players before and during the match.

A limited number of tickets will also be available for sale to club fans and supporters.

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 4 times, and the Intercontinental Cup once.

The January edition of the FC Series marks Flamengo's return to the United States after five years. In 2019, the club won the Florida Cup and began one of the most decorated years in its history, including wins in Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores.

During their 2024 visit to Florida, Flamengo will also meet Orlando City at Exploria Stadium on January 27. The Brazilian club supporters have already sold out their ticket allotment for that match.

”This initiative, in partnership with the Philadelphia Union, is a great opportunity to further promote our brand in a market where we will be competing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, while supporting grassroots soccer and the growth of the sport in the U.S.” – Gustavo Oliveira, Flamengo Vice-President of Communication and Marketing.

Heading into their 15^th season in Major League Soccer, the Philadelphia Union – semifinalist team from the MLS Eastern Conference last year — will train in Clearwater, Florida for the 10^th consecutive year.

The club has reached the finals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2014, 2015, and 2018, and has appeared in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. In 2020, the Union were awarded the club's first Supporters' Shield after finishing with the best regular season record in MLS. In 2022, the Union reached the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history.

The Union’s preseason schedule, announced Friday, includes four closed-door friendlies. The youth-focused January 21 match against Flamengo will be the only Florida match open to fans.

The Philadelphia Union is part of parent company Union Sports and Entertainment LLC, which also operates Philadelphia Union II, the Philadelphia Union Academy, Philadelphia Union Foundation and Philadelphia Union Youth Programs. With a commitment to developing youth, the Union has signed 20 academy prospects to homegrown player contracts.

Ticket information is available at FCSeries.com.

About FC Series / Florida Cup

The largest annual international soccer event in the Sunshine State, the FC Series is a global platform that combines sports, music and entertainment. In 2023, the event was broadcasted 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.

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SUNDAY, JULY 21 - FC SERIES

CR FLAMENGO (BRAZIL) vs PHILADELPHIA UNION (USA)| 2:00 p.m. ET

Al Lang Stadium
St. Petersburg, Fla.