Miami, April 30, 2024 – Yesterday, at Miami Dade College (MDC) Padrón Campus in Little Havana, Madeline Pumariega, President of MDC, one of the largest and most diverse institutions in the country, and Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, the home of football around the globe, announced a new collaboration to offer MDC students internships and establish the first-ever FIFA exhibition in the U.S. The exhibition will be housed inside the College’s National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower.
“We are honored to serve as the site of the first FIFA exhibition in the U.S. as we approach the centennial of our historic Freedom Tower in 2025,” said President Pumariega. “The internship program for MDC students at FIFA’s new offices in Miami will provide students the opportunity to gain substantiative hands-on experience and forge connections that will last throughout their careers. They will also hear from FIFA and global football professionals as part of a new guest speaker series.”
The Freedom Tower is currently undergoing a major renovation in advance of its centennial anniversary and re-opening in 2025. It will showcase important iconic items on loan from the FIFA Museum in Zurich, highlighting the history and growth of football across the Americas, as well as many important FIFA events that have taken place in Miami over the decades.
“Exhibits from the FIFA Museum will tell the story of football and bring visitors to the Freedom Tower exhibition closer to the beautiful game. It will show the history of our sport, which is one of opportunity, and I am proud that students of Miami Dade College will also have the chance to work with FIFA as interns,” said President Infantino.
This fall, MDC will launch its highly anticipated men’s and women’s soccer programs, a wonderful addition to the College’s existing athletic programs. The teams will be led by MDC alumnus Ramiro Vengoechea as Head Coach of the first-ever MDC women’s soccer team and Giuseppe DePalo selected to be the Head Coach of the men’s team.
