Last year, For Soccer and the English Football Association brought the Magic of the Cup to New York City, celebrating the Fifth Round of the Emirates FA Cup with iconic stops, fan experiences, and a community-first focus. This year, we built on that momentum, heading south to one of the most vibrant soccer markets in the country: Miami.
WORLD CUP HOST CITY INSIGHTS – MIAMI
The countdown to the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is on. Want to learn more about the Miami market—host of seven tournament games, including a quarterfinal and the third-place game?
With the rise of “Messi-mania,” the city’s deep cultural roots, and soccer stitched into its DNA, Miami was the obvious choice for the 2025 Emirates FA Cup Trophy Tour. For an entire week, we tapped into the city’s fields, food, and fan pride, to celebrate one of soccer’s most prestigious trophies.
Two-time FA Cup winner Joe Cole joined as the face of the Tour, bringing more than just his decorated playing resume. His personality sparked exciting fan engagement moments and opened the door for deeper, culture-driven storytelling—connecting the historic tournament to the vibrant energy of Miami. Not to mention, Cole’s time as a player with the USL Championship’s Tampa Bay Rowdies brought a natural connection to Florida, fueling a mutual enthusiasm between him and the Sunshine State’s passionate soccer community.
Cross-sport collaborations were plentiful, from tossing the opening pitch at a Miami Marlins game to a jersey swap with Miami Dolphins’ kicker, Jason Sanders. From an appearance at the Inter Miami fan zone to attending the Miami Open. Cole even connected with American golfer and West Ham fan Billy Horschel at the TGL Finals for a young-trophy-meets-old-trophy collaboration. Every stop proved that soccer fandom thrives within other sporting communities. The Emirates FA Cup didn’t wait for fans to come to it…it met them where they already were.
Beyond the sporting landscape, the Emirates FA Cup Miami Takeover touted its authenticity by tapping into the city’s diverse culture through local food, art, and soccer mainstays.
From skatepark to swamp, we linked up with Andrew—a Miami-based brand known for its creative roots—at the iconic Lot 11. And the Emirates FA Cup even took an airboat ride through the Everglades, showing there’s truly no place that the trophy can’t go.
At Classic Football Shirts, Cole and host Brian LaFortune dug through racks of old kits, sparking Emirates FA Cup memories and moments of nostalgia.
One of the week’s most memorable moments came during our “If You Know You Know” tour with local content creator Mari Guevara. She brought Cole into her world, starting with a classic cafecito from a walk-up Cuban spot, followed by a trip to her family’s wellness center, a stop at her favorite thrift store for some vintage fits, and wrapping with a rooftop pickup game overlooking the city. It was organic, full of personality—and perfectly Miami.
The tour wasn’t just about content or photo ops, it was about connection. Through partnering with Alianza de Futbol to host a youth clinic for 8–11 year-olds, the Emirates FA Cup Miami Takeover provided kids from the local community a chance to train with Cole and freestyler Laura Biondo. The trophy’s presence on the side of the field added a level of awe and aspiration that is hard to replicate, creating one of the most meaningful parts of the week.
To cap it all off, we hosted two watch parties for the Emirates FA Cup quarterfinals at Temple House in Miami Beach—a tech-forward venue with immersive 3D wall mapping that made it feel like fans were stepping right into Wembley Stadium. With appearances from Cole, incredible food and drinks, custom giveaways from Emirates and ESPN+, and of course, plenty of trophy photo ops, the events brought together local supporter groups, influencers, and everyday fans for an unforgettable celebration of the game.
With a second year of the Emirates FA Cup Trophy Tour in the books, what we walked away with was simple but powerful: soccer in America is thriving and in Miami, it’s electric. The fandom is vibrant, the people are passionate, and the appetite for global soccer is only growing.
The Emirates FA Cup may be a piece of English history, but in Miami, it felt right at home.
Emirates FA Cup Trophy Tour Photo Gallery
