The World Cup kicks off Thursday.
Although Orlando isn’t hosting games as it did when the U.S. first welcomed the tournament in 1994, Central Florida did get a taste of some of the planet’s best teams with the Road to ’26 international friendlies series in March and Wednesday’s England-Costa Rica friendly.
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Local soccer fans, however, will find an Orlando City SC flavor sprinkled among the field of 48.
Three Lions are representing their respective countries: Maxime Crepeau (Canada), Braian Ojeda (Paraguay) and Marco Pasalic (Croatia). Additionally, former Orlando City defender and academy product Alex Freeman was named to the United States Men’s National Team.
Here is a breakdown highlighting the players with ties to Orlando City competing in the tournament:
Maxime Crepeau, Canada
Quick notes: Crepeau, 32, will be co-host Canada’s starting goalkeeper. He is in his first season with Orlando City after joining the Lions via free agency. Crepeau has logged more than 1,100 minutes across 14 appearances, racking up 63 saves, a clean sheet and tying the club’s single-game record with an 11-save performance in the 2026 season opener, a 2-1 loss to New York.
Internationally: The Greenfield Park, Quebec City, native has earned 31 caps for Les Rouges (the national team’s nickname) and an additional 14 youth-level appearances, securing 12 clean sheets over his international career. Canadian national team head coach Jesse Marsch announced the decision to go with Crepeau in goal, choosing him as the No. 1 keeper over Dayne St. Clair.
Did you know? Crepeau was instrumental in Canada’s run to the Copa America semifinals in 2024, which included group games in Orlando. It’s a dream come true, Crepeau said, because he was on track to be Canada’s top keeper in 2022 when he broke his leg 18 days before the start of the World Cup in Qatar.
He said it: Crepeau came up through CF Montreal’s academy. He was named the Canadian starter just meters away from the MLS club’s pitch. “It’s pretty special how life does these things sometimes,” Crepeau told The Canadian Press. “The fact that it brought us here to the last sendoff before the World Cup and the decision arrives here, it’s pretty special and I’ll take that with me for a long time.”
Canada’s Group B schedule: Friday vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, at Toronto, 3 p.m.; June 18 vs. Qatar, at Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.; June 24 vs. Switzerland, at Vancouver, 3 p.m.
Braian Ojeda, Paraguay
Quick notes: Ojeda is a key, regular starting midfielder for Paraguay, which opens group play against the U.S. on Thursday in Los Angeles. He has logged significant minutes in midfield for the Lions. Orlando acquired the 25-year-old via a trade with Real Salt Lake on Jan. 2. A crucial player for the Lions in 2026, he has started each of the club’s 18 matches across all competitions, playing 1,552 minutes and sitting out for only 68. He has provided four assists.
Internationally: Ojeda has earned 16 caps for the Paraguayan national team, La Albirroja (which refers to the red-and-white stripes that are the main features of the jersey in the team’s kit). He is one of four MLS players on the Paraguay roster, alongside Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Andres Cubas and Atlanta United midfielders Miguel Almiron and Matias Galarza.
Did you know? The native of Itaugua, Paraguay, is making his World Cup debut as his nation is making its first appearance since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Paraguay’s Group D schedule: Friday vs. United States, at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.; June 19 vs. Turkey, at San Francisco, 11 p.m.; June 25 vs. Australia, at San Francisco, 10 p.m.
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Marco Pasalic, Croatia
Quick notes: An attacking winger for the Lions, he was called up to bolster the 2018 World Cup runners-up. Pasalic is in his second season with Orlando City. The 25-year-old had a standout 2025 season after being acquired in February 2025 from Croatian top-flight club HNK Rijeka. Pasalic scored 12 goals and added five assists for Orlando City in MLS action and earned a spot in the league’s All-Star Game.
He’s better now: His 2026 campaign had been slowed by thigh and hamstring injuries that sidelined him for about a month in April to mid-May. Pasalic has two goals and an assist for the Lions this season.
Internationally: Born in Germany but eligible for Croatia, Pasilic has earned 14 caps while recording one goal and three assists for the Vatreni (the Blazers).
Croatia’s Group L schedule: June 17 vs. England, at Dallas, 4 p.m.; June 23 vs. Panama, at Toronto, 7 p.m.; June 27 vs. Ghana, at Philadelphia, 5 p.m.
Alex Freeman, United States
Quick notes: Freeman is a former Orlando City SC defender. He is the first Lions player to go through the club academy, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS levels before playing in the World Cup. Freeman made 34 starts in 42 appearances for the Lions across all competitions in MLS, scoring six goals and adding seven assists from 2022-25.
With the Lions: He scored six goals and added an assist during the 2025 season and was a MLS All-Star. He was signed as a homegrown player with Orlando City SC, joining the academy in 2020 from Weston FC in Broward County.
On the move: Freeman, 21, transferred to Villarreal CF in La Liga on Jan. 29, 2026, and made his Spanish debut in a 4-1 victory over Espanyol. He played in nine matches, starting three.
Internationally: The son of former NFL standout and Super Bowl champ Antonio Freeman, Alex Freeman earned his first caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team in 2025. He scored twice in a friendly against Uruguay last November.
Did you know? Born in Baltimore, Freeman and his family relocated to Plantation and he starred at American Heritage School. His mother Rochelle is a Liverpool supporter.
United States’ Group D schedule: Friday vs. Paraguay, at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.; June 19 vs. Australia, at Seattle, 3 p.m.; June 25 vs. Turkey, at Los Angeles, 10 p.m.
World Cup watch parties
Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are teaming up to host watch parties throughout the tournament. The clubs are presenting the Orlando Soccer Celebration at Pointe Orlando. The event will show all of the matches live. There will also be player appearances, music, food and more. Pointe Orlando is at 9101 International Drive.
Up next for Orlando City
The Lions are 4-9-2 and 14 points in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference. Orlando City is off until July 22, when the Lions travel to northern California to take on the San Jose Earthquakes. Orlando City’s first home match after the break will be July 25 against Nashville.
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