As the popularity of football continues to grow in the United States, Bundesliga clubs Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FC Cologne will travel to the U.S. in January to compete in the 2015 Florida Cup against Brazilian clubs Corinthians and Fluminense FC. The clubs will play in a four-match tournament that will take place in Orlando on January 15 and Jacksonville on January 17.

The tournament will consist of double-headers at both the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando and EverBank Field in Jacksonville. To crown the tournament and national club champions, each match victory will deliver three points, with one point for a tie in regulation and one additional point for a penalty shootout victory.

Local rivals 1. FC Cologne and Bayer 04 Leverkusen represent two of the most competitive clubs in German football. Since the club’s founding in 1948, 1. FC Cologne has claimed two Bundesliga championships, with an additional German Championship title prior to the Bundesliga’s formation. Bayer 04 Leverkusen has a history dating back 110 years that includes an UEFA Cup championship and an UEFA Champions League final appearance in 2002.

Finishing in fourth place in the Bundesliga last season, Bayer 04 Leverkusen has carried their stellar play into the 2014-2015 season. Currently in fourth place, Bayer 04 Leverkusen is led by electrifying winger Karim Bellarabi. The squad also features American goalkeeper David Yelldell, who has spent time on the United States men’s national team roster.

Coming off of a 2nd Division Bundesliga championship in the 2013-2014 season, 1. FC Cologne is relying on the youth of left back Jonas Hector (who recently joined the German national team) and striker Anthony Ujah (a member of the Nigerian national team) to lead the team as they look to re-establish themselves in the Bundesliga during the 2014-2015 season.

Tickets for the Florida Cup can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and EverBank Field box offices.

Match dates and times are listed below:

Jan. 15 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Orlando)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Fluminense FC at 17.00 EST
1. FC Cologne vs. Corinthians at 19.30 EST

Jan. 17 at EverBank Field (Jacksonville)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Corinthians at 13.00 EST
1. FC Cologne vs. Fluminense FC at 15.30 EST