In this episode of the Magic City Soccer podcast, Matt and Drew discuss Miami FC’s start to the NISA Showcase and other NISA news, Miami United’s proposed women’s team, a local Inter Miami CF signee and more. Join us, won’t you?
To subscribe on Google Play, click here: 
To subscribe on Apple Podcasts, click here: 
Fresh off claiming “The Best FIFA Women’s Player” award in Milan, the University of Miami announced Tuesday that women’s soccer star and social activist Megan Rapinoe will address the student body on Oct. 10.
As part of the “What Matters to U” series, hosted by UM student government’s Student Engagement Planning Agency, Megan Rapinoe will likely speak about her activities on the pitch (two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner) and off (social activism, business investment and philanthropy).
This is the third “What Matters to U” speech. Science communicator Bill Nye and actor/comedian Ken Jeong spoke in Feburary and April 2019, respectively.
As a student event, tickets are only available for undergraduate, graduate, medical and law students of the University of Miami. More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page.
Inter Miami CF released its season ticket price tiers Tuesday, with prices ranging from approximately $425 for supporters section tickets to nearly $3,000 for premium sideline seats.
FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi will not fly to the Miami with his team to contest two friendlies with S.S.C. Napoli after sustaining a right calf strain.
The Miami FC claimed its second National Premier Soccer League National Championship on Saturday night, defeating host New York Cosmos 3-1.
Miami FC, which has announced it has plans to leave NPSL for the National Independent Soccer Association, became the first team in NPSL history to win a second title.
After both teams alternated chances in the first 10 minutes, a high press from Miami FC and Ariel Martinez generated a turnover from Daniel Szetela. The ball landed at the feet of captain Dylan Mares, who passed to Miguel Gonzalez, and found Mares on a one-time pass that set him up for a clear shot on goal. A low roller to the left corner beat Cosmos keeper Paul Blanchette to put Miami up 1-0.
The key second goal came just six minutes later, when another turnover from Szetela forced by Tomás Granitto led to the ball falling right at Mares’ foot. A few touches and a small move to the right found Mares open in the box with a look at the top-right corner. The captain again took his chance, and doubled his team’s advantage.
New York Cosmos would halve the advantage in the 30th minute, when an Ansi Agolli free kick sneaked through the crowd in the box and past Miami FC goalkeeper Mark Pais, who was anticipating a header that never came.
It was the one misstep from Pais, who made a number of saves to keep Miami FC in the game. Particularly in the second half, Pais made save after save to keep the one-goal advantage in place. In the 86th minute, it took a double-fingertip save from Pais to keep Miami FC on top.
The game was finally sorted in stoppage time, when defender Shawn Chin won a ball and found forward Darío Suárez on the wing. Chin then continued a run, and Suárez found him streaking down the right. With only Blanchette to beat, Chin calmly moved around the sliding keeper, continued his run, and passed the ball into the heart of the net. Chin’s shirt came off, his team ran over to join him at the opposite flag post, and the champions defended their crown.
Less than six months after the proposal was introduced, and less than two months after demolition began, the City of Fort Lauderdale’s commission Tuesday night gave final approval to the construction of a stadium at the site of Lockhart Stadium for the use of Inter Miami CF.
The vote, which was unanimous and took only a few minutes of deliberation, now guarantees that Inter Miami CF will have a home to play in when it begins its first Major League Soccer campaign.
There are still wrinkles to iron out. Most notably, the Federal Aviation Administration will have say over the construction process, due to the lot’s proximity to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. According to Chris Wittyngham, who spoke to a team official after the vote, the team is ready to start building as soon as that approval is given.
Spoke to a team official after the approval. He says they’re ready to go as soon as possible on construction.
They do have to go through a process with the FAA about the adjacent airport but otherwise it will move quickly.
— Chris Wittyngham (@ChrisWittyngham) July 9, 2019
640 the Hurricane radio host Andy Slater spoke to the team before the vote. A spokesperson stated that they believe the FAA approval could come in September.
If tonight’s @InterMiamiCF vote passes, as expected, when would stadium start to go up?
“We are targeting mid-September,” team rep says.
Mayor’s office tells me “some hurdles” remain, including getting FAA approval since site is near executive airport. https://t.co/6PLyLDHniS
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) July 9, 2019
The FAA has been a speed bump on construction at the Lockhart Stadium site before. A long-proposed water park next to the stadium was scuttled because of FAA regulations.
Ownership has routinely stated that they expect the stadium to be completed by the start of the 2020 MLS season.
In a name-perfect matchup Wednesday night, Florida Soccer Soldiers will host Coldstream Guards FC, a team made up of soldiers from the British Army’s Coldstream Guards.
“Our last few tours have consisted in and around Europe with our last one being to Cyprus last year,” a representative of the team said through Instagram earlier this week. “We thought, why not the states and we just couldn’t say no to Miami.”
The match comes just two days after Coldstream Guards FC faced Red Force FC at Tropical Park. Red Force won that match, 4-2.
The Soccer Soldiers match will kick off at 8:30 p.m. kickoff at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah.
The UPSL Florida Conference South Division quarterfinal kicks off at Tropical Park Stadium in Miami-Dade, as Red Force FC host Palm Beach Spartans FC. You can watch our live coverage on MyCujoo here!
AS USA reported Tuesday afternoon that Inter Miami CF owner David Beckham sold his stake in the club to partners Jorge and José Mas, agreeing to remain a “global face” for the club. Club representatives and the City of Miami went into overdrive to categorically deny the report.
Scotland national Claire Emslie scored Scotland’s first-ever Women’s World Cup goal Sunday. If South Florida soccer fans think the name sounds familiar, they would be right.
