Soccer match prevents Orlando Storm from hosting a UFL playoff game

Scheduled Soccer Friendly Forces Orlando Storm to Relocate UFL Playoff Game UFL officials announced on June 12 that the Orlando Storm would no longer host its first-round playoff game at Inter&Co Stadium on June 22 because a previously scheduled international soccer friendly involving Orlando City SC takes priority at the venue. The change requires the Storm to play at a neutral site instead. The shift follows long-standing lease terms that give the Major League Soccer club precedence during summer periods at the 25,500-seat facility owned by the City of Orlando.

The Incident

The conflict arose when an international soccer match between Orlando City SC and a CONCACAF opponent was confirmed for the same weekend. UFL Commissioner Russ Brandon explained that venue contracts require adjustments whenever soccer commitments overlap. He added that league officials are working with the Storm to find an alternative location that preserves competitive balance. The decision aligns with standard priority agreements between the stadium’s primary tenant and visiting events.

League and Venue Background

The UFL began operations in 2024 after the merger of the XFL and USFL. It fields an eight-team spring league whose regular season runs primarily from March through June. Orlando’s franchise uses Inter&Co Stadium under an arrangement in which the City of Orlando owns the facility and leases it chiefly to Orlando City SC. These shared-use agreements mirror practices at other North American venues, including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where multiple tenants must coordinate calendars well in advance.

Lease Terms and Scheduling Pressures

Orlando City SC president Phil Rawlins stated in a club release that the June friendly was locked in during late 2023 as part of broader preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He noted that the lease terms with the city predated the UFL’s current structure. Such timing illustrates how multi-year venue contracts can create unavoidable overlaps when new leagues enter established facilities. In South Africa, similar arrangements at Soccer City and Ellis Park have long required rugby and soccer federations to align schedules years ahead to prevent comparable clashes.

Next Steps for the Storm

With the playoff date approaching, UFL and Storm officials continue to identify a suitable neutral-site option. The outcome will depend on how quickly an alternative venue can be secured while maintaining the integrity of the postseason format. Future scheduling between the UFL and MLS tenants will likely require even earlier coordination to reduce the chance of repeated disruptions.

By Dante Williams, Staff Writer