It’s been dubbed one of the most important matches in United States National Team history by some. A win against Panama all but secures a bid for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and keeps the streak of seven straight World Cup appearances for the U.S. alive. The immense qualifying implications make this game incredibly important for U.S. Soccer, but this is also an equally important game for the city of Orlando.
Walking around Orlando City Stadium, the once purple banners that lined the walls of the stadium’s facade are now draped in red, white and blue. Banners line downtown Orlando and Church Street all the way up to the stadium, all reading, “One Nation, One Team.