Copa America could be Orlando’s audition for World Cup

Copa America Centenario is about a month away from heading to Camping World Stadium and Orlando. It could be an audition for Orlando for a future World Cup.

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Orlando has quickly and suddenly become the soccer capitol of the south as Orlando City owner Phil Rawlins likes to say. The sudden emergence of Orlando and Orlando City has changed the soccer geography in the United States it seems.

This is not the same city that hosted the World Cup in 1994. This is not the same city at all.

And so now one of the world’s biggest soccer tournaments has chosen Orlando for one of its sites in its centennial celebration.

The Copa America Centenario, the continental championship for South America that will feature North American teams including the United States and Mexico for its 100th anniversary, placed three games at Camping World Stadium in June. That includes a marquee matchup featuring Brazil taking on Haiti and Paraguay taking on Costa Rica.

This is a big deal for Orlando. Brazil already has made something of a second home in Orlando considering the business and tourism ties between Orlando and that country. The other countries will be flying in droves to come watch these games. Orlando is up front on a national stage.

And it could mean a whole lot more.

The U.S. reportedly is considering putting together a bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 after its failed bid for the 2018 World Cup (went to Russia) and 2022 (went to Qatar). Orlando was not part of either bid when the U.S. submitted it then. That may be changing now with how much Orlando fans have flocked to everything soccer.

Rawlins told Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel he sees the Copa America games as something of an audition for potentially hosting World Cup games if that bid is successful:

“We have to show just how big a soccer capital it is. I believe strongly the U.S. has a tremendous chance to hold the World Cup and they’re going to look back at this tournament. Is Orlando a real contender to host the Cup again? I think we should be.”

Orlando probably has some limitations it has to overcome — namely that Camping World Stadium does not have a natural grass playing surface.

And that process is a long way away.

Copa America is coming and Orlando already seems like it is a good marriage. It will be interesting to see just how good attendance is. The trophy was in town Monday and Tuesday as part of a press tour and a meet and greet with Orlando City season ticketholders.

What happens after that will be determined by other powers. Orlando will be front and center on the international stage and get a chance to show itself off for potentially even more.

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