MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Welcome to South Florida, home of the three-time NBA champion Miami Heat, two-time Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins, two-time World Series champion Miami Marlins and two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Oh, and reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami. In other words, this world cup Coming to Lionel Messi’s neighborhood.
messi And defending champion Argentina won’t be able to play in Miami Gardens during this World Cup. If Argentina wins Group J, as many are predicting, they will face the Group H runners-up in a round of 32 match on July 3.
The only possibility for Messi to play in South Florida during the World Cup is if Argentina loses in the semifinals and ends up in the third-place match.
Cristiano Ronaldo” However, his team is certain to play at least one game in Miami Gardens. Among the teams guaranteed to play in South Florida at some point in this World Cup are Ronaldo’s teams from Scotland, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cape Verde, Colombia and Portugal.
It’s a melting pot of teams with Asia, Africa, South America and Europe all represented.
Landmarks/Attractions
Whether by land or sea, there are many ways to experience the sights and sounds of South Florida. Some important points:
— For art lovers, Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood is a must. There are also some features unique soccer balls It turned into a work of art. Also, check out the Frost Museum of Science. It’s an amazing museum.
— The beach is also a must. Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale Beach, and countless places in between are all worth a trip.
— To the south, the Florida Keys feel like stepping back in time. Some spots, like Key Largo, can be an hour’s drive from Miami. Key West is a few hours away, but it’s a place like no other.
Miami food scene
South Florida has everything you want.
Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood is the heart of the city’s Cuban culture, and there’s no shortage of places to fill up on ropa vieja and Cuban sandwiches. (A must-see for coffee lovers and those who have never had Cuban coffee. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but you should definitely give it a try.)
There are fine dining restaurants everywhere, steak, Italian, sushi, old South Beach diners with enough omelets to feed half a football team, street vendors, pop-up spaces, trendy things, whatever you’re looking for. Be patient and plan ahead. This is going to be a busy time in Miami, a city with a lot of everything, including transportation.
fan zone
A FIFA fan festival is planned at Miami’s Bayfront Park, with up to 30,000 fans expected to watch matches and other programming on giant screens in the massive amphitheater each day. Another fan zone is planned for Miami Beach, and World Cup programs and celebrations are also planned for some county parks.
Transportation options
be patient. When the World Cup is not being held, the traffic jams here are terrible. It’s even worse because almost nothing is happening here.
Options to consider include Freebee, an on-demand electric transportation service, and Brightline trains, which connect Miami with Palm Beach County and beyond.
stadium tips
The good news is that the stadium’s canopy roof provides at least some protection from the sun and rain, especially the seats away from the playing surface.
But this is Miami (technically Miami Gardens, since the stadium is north of the actual city of Miami). It’s going to be hot. It’s going to be sunny. Drink lots of water. Please wear sunscreen. Please put on your hat. Wear brightly colored clothes.
The stadium itself is easy to navigate and the sound system and video board are top notch. However, be prepared for long and hot days and nights.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
