NEW YORK, N.Y. - New York City FC today announced that the First Team will open their 2020 preseason in Orlando, Florida in the Florida Cup 2020 as the Club begins preparation for their first appearance in the Concacaf Champions League.
 
Preseason will begin on January 11 and NYCFC will play a pair of Brazilian clubs at Exploria Stadium, home of Orlando City SC, during the Florida Cup.
 
On January 15, NYCFC will face Corinthians at 6:00 pm and three days later on January 18, NYCFC takes on Palmeiras at 2:00 pm.
 
Corinthians has won the Brazilian championship seven times adding in three Brazilian Cup titles. The São Paulo-based team won the Copa Libertadores, South America's most prestigious continental tournament, in 2012 and subsequently defeated Chelsea FC (England) in the Club World Cup later that year.
 
Fellow state of São Paulo club Palmerias has won the Brazilian league 10 times making it the most successful club team in Brazilian football history. In addition, the club has won three Brazilian Cups and the 1999 Copa Libertadores tournament. Most recently, Palmerias won the league title in 2018 and are currently second in 2019. 
 
NYCFC striker and Brazil native Héber said: "Corinthians and Palmeiras are two of the biggest clubs in all of Brazil. They play great football in front of some of the best supporters in all the world. When you think of Brazilian football, you think of Corinthians and Palmeiras. Both teams are known for producing world class players, most recently Gabriel Jesus for Palmeiras, so it will be an incredible opportunity for us to play against them.
 
"It will be very important to play against these teams as we prepare for the season ahead. We will measure our team's strength against two of South America's best clubs. This will help us prepare, not only for the MLS season, but also the Concacaf Champions League where we will face teams with the same playing style and technical level." 
 
Florida Cup began in 2015 and has featured many of the top European and South American teams in the world including Dutch giants Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, German Bundesliga teams Bayern Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt, Argentine side River Plate and a host of other Brazilian powers.