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No doubt a game against any of the soccer's giants in South Florida would be a plus for the Reggaeboyz. Now the question is: can the JFF get in on the action?
BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN
mkaufman@MiamiHerald.com
Promising to bring South Florida soccer fans ''a real big wow,'' the Miami-Dade Sports Commission announced Tuesday the launch of the Miami Soccer Series, a five-year initiative that seeks to attract major
international matches and tournaments to Dolphin Stadium.
Among the teams they are wooing for exhibitions are the national teams of Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Italy and Germany, as well as marquee club teams such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan.
They also will bid on the FIFA Club World Cup, which includes the winning club teams from six continents, and the European Super Cup, the annual season curtain-raiser between the winners of the Champions League and the UEFA Cup.
Miami-Dade also would like to hold official matches from South America's Copa Libertadores.
With the help of Guillermo Tofoni, a FIFA match agent and promoter, the commission is targeting Feb. 11, 2009, as the date for its debut exhibition match. That date is designated as an official FIFA match date, which means club teams worldwide are required to release players to their national teams for 48 hours in order to play friendly matches.
Tokyo had been a popular host for international friendlies and cup matches, but Tofoni said Miami appeals to FIFA because of its location and time zone. The goal is to lure seven to eight matches a year to Dolphin Stadium.
The new FIU football stadium also could be used as a secondary venue.
''We don't have to sell Miami as a venue because South Americans love it here, and are very familiar with it, and Europeans also love to vacation here,'' Tofoni said.
Commissioner Jose ''Pepe'' Diaz stressed the project will be funded by sponsors, television revenue and ticket sales. ``We are an international city, and the most popular sport in the world is soccer, so it belongs here.''
Marquee soccer matches in South Florida is not a new idea. The Orange Bowl and Lockhart Stadium have held plenty of big matches over the years, including 1996 Olympic matches; Gold Cup matches; Haitian national team matches; Argentina vs. Germany in 1993 (35,221 fans); River Plate vs. Boca Juniors in 2002 (18,000 fans); and Colombia vs. Argentina in 2004 (32,415 fans).
BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN
mkaufman@MiamiHerald.com
Promising to bring South Florida soccer fans ''a real big wow,'' the Miami-Dade Sports Commission announced Tuesday the launch of the Miami Soccer Series, a five-year initiative that seeks to attract major
international matches and tournaments to Dolphin Stadium.
Among the teams they are wooing for exhibitions are the national teams of Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Italy and Germany, as well as marquee club teams such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan.
They also will bid on the FIFA Club World Cup, which includes the winning club teams from six continents, and the European Super Cup, the annual season curtain-raiser between the winners of the Champions League and the UEFA Cup.
Miami-Dade also would like to hold official matches from South America's Copa Libertadores.
With the help of Guillermo Tofoni, a FIFA match agent and promoter, the commission is targeting Feb. 11, 2009, as the date for its debut exhibition match. That date is designated as an official FIFA match date, which means club teams worldwide are required to release players to their national teams for 48 hours in order to play friendly matches.
Tokyo had been a popular host for international friendlies and cup matches, but Tofoni said Miami appeals to FIFA because of its location and time zone. The goal is to lure seven to eight matches a year to Dolphin Stadium.
The new FIU football stadium also could be used as a secondary venue.
''We don't have to sell Miami as a venue because South Americans love it here, and are very familiar with it, and Europeans also love to vacation here,'' Tofoni said.
Commissioner Jose ''Pepe'' Diaz stressed the project will be funded by sponsors, television revenue and ticket sales. ``We are an international city, and the most popular sport in the world is soccer, so it belongs here.''
Marquee soccer matches in South Florida is not a new idea. The Orange Bowl and Lockhart Stadium have held plenty of big matches over the years, including 1996 Olympic matches; Gold Cup matches; Haitian national team matches; Argentina vs. Germany in 1993 (35,221 fans); River Plate vs. Boca Juniors in 2002 (18,000 fans); and Colombia vs. Argentina in 2004 (32,415 fans).
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