The Portugal National Football Team will train at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center from June 3rd through June 9th in preparation for its local soccer matches against Mexico and Ireland. These two games mark Portugal’s final preparatory matches before heading to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Portugal, the fourth-ranked team in the world, will spend the beginning of June on the east coast as it faces Mexico on June 6 at Gillette Stadium and then Ireland on June 10 at the home of the New York Jets, MetLife Stadium.
As the New York Jets hold offseason workouts in early June, the team will also provide limited use of the fields and facilities to the international soccer players, though it will not conflict with football operations. The Jets have one of the finest training centers in the National Football League with four outdoor practice fields, making this the ideal venue for Portugal. The Jets have previously been host to an international soccer team when the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club practiced at the team’s facilities in July 2010.
“I’m very happy with the conditions we’ll have at our disposal in the United States. I’ve visited the NY Jets training center and I could see that pitches are very good. The overall quality of the facilities we’ll use is of the highest standards so we’ll have everything we need to prepare our team for the World Cup,” said Portugal’s Head Coach Paulo Bento.
In addition, Portugal and the Jets will provide unique opportunities to engage fans of both football teams. Jets fans will be able to view exclusive content, follow what the Jets players think about international soccer and more, only on newyorkjets.com.
Portugal, led by recent FIFA Ballon D’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, will open up the World Cup against Germany on June 16 before facing the United States on June 22 and closing the group stage against Ghana four days later. Portugal qualified for the World Cup by defeating Sweden by an aggregate score of 4-2 over two legs in the UEFA Playoffs. Ronaldo scored all four goals for Portugal, which will be playing in its fourth consecutive World Cup.
The Jets will host the Portuguese team for five practices at the team’s facility in Florham Park, NJ.
