FC Bayern Munich women will train in Florida in January. (Courtesy photo)
FC Bayern Munich women will train in Florida in January and play friendly matches against the University of Florida on Jan. 24 and against the U-20 U.S. women’s national team on Jan. 27, Bayern announced Friday. The training camp will take place from Jan. 21-27.
The match against Florida will take place on campus in Gainseville, according to a Bayern Munich press release. The match against the U.S. U-20s is scheduled to be played in Orlando.
Bayern includes high-profile German internationals Melanie Behringer, Lena Lotzen and Melanie Leupolz, as well as Americans Amber Brooks, Katie Stengel and Gina Lewandowski.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase the talent on our women’s team to US soccer fans,” said FCB women’s coach Thomas Wörle. “We are particularly excited about playing against the US U-20 national team and visiting UF because its women’s team is ranked among the best collegiate teams in the US.”
The trip is sponsored by FC Bayern sponsor Allianz, a Munich-based insurance company which is also the title sponsor of the German women’s national team and the Frauen-Bundesliga.
“We believe in women’s soccer with great conviction. Our goal is to showcase and promote the women’s game, especially in the year leading up to the Women’s World Cup in Canada,” said Bernd Heinemann, chairman of Allianz Germany AG.
Rudolf Vidal, managing director of FC Bayern’s US office, describes the women’s team’s training camp as “another step in our internationalization strategy.” Bayern’s men’s team toured the U.S. this past summer, including playing against the MLS All-Stars in Portland.
The University of Florida did not immediately return a request for comment regarding its spring schedule.
