Miami Soccer Tournament Winners Head to Brazil

MIAMI, FL — While the fate of Major League Soccer is still being hashed out in Miami, the city recently played host to 17 of the best five-man teams in the United States. A Chicago area team won the rights to advance to Neymar Jr.’s Five World Final in Brazil next month. The winning team — Victory FC — went undefeated in the day-long Miami tournament and knocked out the returning U.S. champions from Los Angeles.

"Now the squad from Chicago will pack their bags for Neymar’s hometown Praia Grande, Brazil with 52 other teams from around the globe to compete for the World Championship July 7-8," organizers told Patch. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Patch.)

Victory FC team captain Jose Ochoa noted that his team had to overcome the disappointment of losing last year's tournament. “Our team chemistry is our strength. After 10 years of playing together we all know and trust each other so much, and hope that level of comfort will take us far in Brazil," he explained.

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The road to Brazil was not an easy one for the new U.S. champions, who played eight separate 10-minute matches against the other winners of regional qualifying tournaments that took place in 17 cities across the country.

The games are only 10 minutes long on a much shorter field than traditional soccer matches. The field is 8 percent of the size of the average pitch – which forces more ball control and quick decision-making skills. The nets are also smaller.

The World Final is a two-day tournament that will see teams from Argentina to Azerbaijan compete to be crowned the world’s best. The champions will also win a trip to Barcelona where they will get to meet Neymar and his teammates before an FC Barcelona game.

In its first year, Neymar Jr’s Five had more than 65,000 players take part from 47 countries. This year, the tournament welcomed participants from more than 50 countries and 6 continents..

The World Final will be livestreamed on Red Bull TV. For more details visit neymarjrsfive.com.

Photo courtesy of Red Bull