With the beginning of the NASL fall season this weekend, the much-anticipated Puerto Rico FC debut will take place at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, against Indy Eleven.
Puerto Rico FC will be the NASL’s 13th club after the league recently added Miami FC on May 20. The club will play its home matches at the recently renovated Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium. Located in Bayamón in the greater San Juan area, the 12,500-seat stadium serves as the home base for the Puerto Rico national team.
The most famous owner of Puerto Rico FC: NBA star Carmelo Anthony, who is expected to be on hand for the first match. The current New York Knick has already made appearances with the team and took to the pitch during a practice. From The Telegraph:
The English duo [technical director Neil Sillett and head coach Adrian Whitbread] readily admit that the prospect of Fall Season glory is all but impossible and they have set the squad an immediate target: overtake Miami FC.
Coached by Alessandro Nesta and co-owned by Paolo Maldini, fellow newcomers Miami FC struggled in the NASL Spring Season, finishing bottom of the 11-team league.
They now have a seven-point advantage over Puerto Rico in the combined standings – and Sillett says catching their expansion rivals is their initial aim.
While Anthony will be turning his attention toward the Rio Summer Olympics shortly, the team will slog on: after the home opener, Puerto Rico FC will then play six of the next seven matches on the road, returning for a July 23 match against Rayo OKC before hitting the road again. Tough schedule; Whitbread and crew will have a pretty good idea about the strength of their squad after those first few road matches.
Image by Joe Colon Studio, courtesy NASL.
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