ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies will host the Bundesliga’s VfL Wolfsburg on the opening day of the 2017 Florida Cup at Al Lang Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the club makes its debut as a USL side in the preseason event. Kickoff is set for 4:45 p.m. ET.

Tickets: Ticketmaster (Doubleheader with Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Estudiantes de la Plata, 2 p.m. ET)

Tampa Bay Rowdies news and notes

The Rowdies joined the USL this offseason, and enter the club’s new era with a number of familiar faces retained from the 2016 season.

Among those are former England international Joe Cole, defenders Tam Mkandawire and Neill Collins, and forward Georgi Hristov, the Rowdies’ modern-era scoring leader with 34 goals.

The Rowdies have also added a handful of new faces to the squad, with the latest former USL All-League selection Luke Boden. The left back’s signing was announced on Friday.

Tampa Bay also has a large contingent of trialists on hand as it prepares for the 2017 season, including goalkeeper Nico Campbell, who earned PDL All-Central Conference honors with the Des Moines Menace in 2016.

VfL Wolfsburg news and notes

Wolfsburg has brought a young squad to Florida as its main squad trains in Spain ahead of the resumption of the Bundesliga season.

Among the group is a strong contingent of German U20 internationals, including Amara Conde, who helped the side reach this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup at last summer’s European Championship.

Also in the squad is U.S. U19 international McKinze Gaines, who joined Wolfsburg after turning 18 last March. Gaines had previously played for Lonestar SC in Austin, Texas.

Accompanying the young players in the squad is Josue, who made more than 100 appearances for Wolfsburg in his career, and also was named in Brazil’s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Tournament hashtag:

#FloridaCup2017

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