The Fort Lauderdale Strikers, in cooperation with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, are proud to announce an international friendly between the two teams on Sunday, June 23, at historic Lockhart Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The announcement of the match demonstrates the club’s dedication to bringing great entertainment to South Florida’s fans of soccer, both domestic and international.

“We are thrilled to welcome such a highly respected team and organization like Cruzeiro,” said Strikers President Tom Mulroy. “They have an amazing tradition as one of the greatest clubs in Brazilian soccer history and feature players capable of playing at the highest level anywhere in the world. The game will be a special treat for all of South Florida’s fantastic soccer fans.”

Cruzeiro play in the top level of Brazilian soccer and hold the distinction of being the only club in Brazil to ever win the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the Copa do Brasil and the Campeonato Mineiro in the same year (2003). Founded in 1921, Cruzeiro is one of only five teams to never have been relegated from Brazil’s top division.

Cruzeiro’s rich soccer history includes players like Tostão, who led the team to victory against Pele’s Santos in the 1966 national championship, and a young Ronaldo, who helped the club to their first Copa do Brasil title in 1993. Today, Cruzeiro boasts some of the top talent in Brazil, including Dedé, Diego Souza and Tinga, all of whom have made appearances for the senior Brazilian national team.

The match comes one week before the final home game of the Spring championship season for the Strikers against the San Antonio Scorpions on June 29. Cruzeiro will remain in the U.S. as they follow up their match against the Strikers by traveling to Chicago to face Monarcas Morelia from Mexico on June 28.

“It is always our goal to provide South Florida with the highest quality of soccer on a consistent basis and this game shows our organization’s commitment to that goal,” said Mulroy.

Advanced tickets are currently available for purchase online at a discounted rate through Strikers.com. Tickets start at just $15 and can also be purchased by calling the Strikers’ ticket office at 954-606-0400. Also available are flex ticket packages for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers remaining home schedule and special Fall season ticket packs featuring the return of the New York Cosmos to historic Lockhart Stadium.