- Address: 655 West Church Street, Orlando
- Country: United States
- Capacity: 25,000
- Opened: 24 February 2017
- Main use: Football
- Tenants: Orlando City (football)
Extra stadium info – Exploria Stadium
The construction of the venue, which opened as the Orlando City Stadium, started in 2014 and its construction costs were $155 million. It has 49 rainbow-coloured seats as a memorial that honours the victims of the nightclub shooting in the city of Orlando in 2016. In 2017, the stadium hosted its first-ever match of the national football team of the United States. The United States won the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Panama 4-0 in front of 25,000 fans. In 2018, the Exploria Stadium hosted its first-ever game of the women’s national football team of the United States. The women’s team defeated England 1-0. 12,000 spectators showed up for the match. Orlando City Soccer Club use the Exploria Stadium for home games. The football club was founded in 2013.
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
In 2014, Orlando City signed the Brazilian football star Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, commonly known as Kaká. He became their first player with 10 million followers on his main social media page. Kaká played numerous games for the national football team of Brazil. He played professional football for São Paulo FC from Brazil, AC Milan from the Italian Republic and Real Madrid from Spain before he joined Orlando City in 2014. The former midfielder played in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup final with AC Milan. Kaká and AC Milan won the world championship title after defeating the Boca Juniors from the Argentine Republic. Kaká won various major football trophies before he ended his professional career with Orlando City Soccer Club in 2017.
Orlando City Soccer Club
Orlando City sold over 13,000 season tickets before playing their first Major League Soccer match. On 8 March 2015, they played their first-ever MLS game. Orlando City drew 1-1 against New York City Football Club in Orlando in front of 62,000 fans. Orlando City, also known as The Lions, drew an average home attendance of 32,000 in their first-ever MLS season. In 2017, they played their first-ever Major League Soccer match at the Exploria Stadium. They won the match against New York City Football Club 1-0 in front of 25,000 fans. The striker Cyle Larin scored the only goal of the game. Larin played various times for the national football team of Canada. He played numerous games for Orlando City SC before he signed with the Turkish football club Beşiktaş in 2018.
