2023 Florida Cup

2023 Florida Cup
Tournament details
Host countryUnited States
DatesJuly 19 – August 2
Teams4 (from 1 confederation)
Venues2 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsEngland Chelsea (1st title)
Runners-upWales Wrexham
Tournament statistics
Matches played2
Goals scored9 (4.5 per match)
Top scorer(s)Netherlands Ian Maatsen (Chelsea)
(2 goals)
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 Florida Cup was the ninth edition of the Florida Cup, an annual series of friendly association football events in the United States. The 2023 program combined three separately billed preseason matches held between July 19 and August 2. Chelsea played Wrexham in an FC Series match in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Aston Villa faced Fulham in the Orlando leg of the Premier League Summer Series, which was also included in the FC Series schedule, and Juventus played Real Madrid in an Orlando match on the Soccer Champions Tour hosted by the Florida Cup.[1][2][3]

Chelsea defeated Wrexham 5–0, Aston Villa beat Fulham 2–0, and Juventus defeated Real Madrid 3–1.[4][5][6]

Background

The Chelsea-Wrexham fixture was announced in April 2023 as the first international soccer match to be held at Kenan Memorial Stadium. It was also the clubs' first meeting at a neutral venue and their first match against each other since 1984.[2] Tickets sold out within several days. Local tourism officials estimated before the match that approximately 50,000 visitors would come to Chapel Hill and neighboring Carrboro, generating about $1.1 million in local spending.[7]

Kenan Stadium ordinarily had an artificial playing surface. Organizers therefore installed a temporary natural-grass field for the match.[8] The game opened Wrexham's four-match preseason tour of the United States following the club's promotion to EFL League Two.[4]

The July 26 match between Aston Villa and Fulham was the Orlando fixture of the inaugural Premier League Summer Series and was also included in the FC Series program.[2]

The Juventus–Real Madrid fixture was announced on May 12 as the Orlando stop of the Soccer Champions Tour. It was hosted by the Florida Cup and marked the first appearance by either club at Camping World Stadium. Contemporary coverage described it as the 25th meeting between the teams.[3]

Teams

FC Series

NationTeamLocationConfederationLeague
 EnglandChelseaLondonUEFAPremier League
 WalesWrexhamWrexhamEFL League Two[a]
  1. ↑ Wrexham were promoted from the National League following the 2022–23 season.

Soccer Champions Tour hosted by Florida Cup

NationTeamLocationConfederationLeague
 ItalyJuventusTurinUEFASerie A
 SpainReal MadridMadridLa Liga

Venues

Chapel Hill, North Carolina Orlando, Florida
Kenan Memorial Stadium Camping World Stadium
Capacity: 50,500 Capacity: 65,000
Location of the host cities of the 2023 Florida Cup.

Matches

FC Series
Chelsea England5–0Wales Wrexham
 Report
Attendance: 50,596
Soccer Champions Tour
Juventus Italy3–1Spain Real Madrid
 Report
Attendance: 63,503
Referee: Ismail Elfath (United States)

References

  1. ↑ Series, F.C. "Florida Cup expands to FC Series with 2022 Lineup - FC Series 2022". FC Series. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "English giant Chelsea to play Wrexham in historic match in Chapel Hill". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. April 20, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Real Madrid CF, Juventus to meet in Orlando on Aug. 2". Spectrum News 13. May 12, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Sutton, Bob (July 19, 2023). "Wrexham opens US tour with 5-0 loss to Chelsea before 50,596 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina". AP News. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  5. ↑ Citro, Michael (July 26, 2023). "Fulham vs. Aston Villa, International Friendly: Final Score 2-0 as Aston Villa Wins Friendly at Exploria Stadium". The Mane Land. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  6. ↑ Nieto, Luis; Cons, Roddy (August 3, 2023). "Juventus expose Real Madrid's defensive weakness in final game of United States tour". AS USA. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  7. ↑ Yaede, Caitlyn (July 15, 2023). "Welcome to Chapel Hill: Wrexham vs. Chelsea game expected to bring $1.1M to Orange County". WUNC. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  8. ↑ Northam, Mitchell (July 20, 2023). "Chelsea, Wrexham coaches impressed by sold-out crowd and playing surface in Chapel Hill". WUNC. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.