Orlando’s Camping World Stadium received its FIFA Quality Field Certificate, setting the stage for an exciting international match on a FIFA-approved turf in late April; and, according to AstroTurf, making Orlando an even more attractive candidate host city for the World Cup in 2026. The city recently installed a new AstroTurf field at the stadium as part of a major, multi-year stadium renovation project.
“If you want to be a host city for the World Cup, you need to show that you’re giving back to the community through turf projects, youth programs, and this really helps make the argument for Orlando and Camping World Stadium,” said Carl Capellas, manager of soccer for AstroTurf®.
Orlando installed a top-of-the-line turf system – AstroTurf’s RootZone 3D3 Trionic Blend 60. The field features a multi-ply primary backing system to optimize dimensional stability. Camping World Stadium also installed a Brock SP17 shock pad with 100% engineered organic infill.
“Brock is extremely excited to be a part of this project,” said Ronnie Pascale, national director of sales for Brock USA. “I remember playing at Camping World Stadium with the Richmond Kickers against Orlando City FC before they moved to MLS. To know that this historic stadium now has the most state-of-the-art synthetic turf playing surface that not only reduces temperatures but is also FIFA Certified is incredible.”
Rigorously tested before and after installation, the project team poured an incredible amount of effort into this new field, knowing how important a high-performance field at Camping World Stadium is to the city, the athletes, and the synthetic turf industry.
“There aren’t many FIFA-quality fields done in the United States each year. The reality is, it’s not an easy process. A lot of work goes into it and the whole project team plays a huge part,” said Capellas. “The architect on this project was really key to getting this field put in and certified.”
The field was tested by Sports Lab, a global leader in sports surface testing and certification, and given a Quality Pro rating by FIFA. The FIFA Certification lasts from March 2022 to March 2025.
Camping World Stadium (formerly known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl) has the opportunity to show off its new high-tech turf system with a game between two teams in CONCACAF, the third most successful FIFA Federation. On April 27, the 2022 MexTour kicks off in Orlando, giving central Florida soccer fans a night to remember.
This single match could generate as much as $8 million in local business, bringing a huge amount of energy and momentum to the city. It will also shed light on Orlando at just the right time. The battle for the World Cup in 2026 is starting to heat up, and there are a lot of high-profile cities on the candidate list, including Philadelphia, Nashville, Washington DC, and Miami.
“As the World Cup 2022 finishes this year in Qatar, the focus will turn toward 2026 quickly. The U.S. cities will begin building the hype, and hosting an international friendly is one of the main ways to do this,” said Capellas.