Bermuda's World Cup and Olympic squads are to fly to Florida for a six-match tour next month.

Both squads will play three matches in successive days and among the opponents will be three Major League Soccer teams and the United States under-20s.

Technical director Clyde Best and national team coach Robert Calderon last night hailed the tour as a huge boost to their World Cup preparations and were delighted that Bermuda Football Association had sanctioned it.

A party of more than 40 players, coaches and support staff will fly to Florida on February 15 and will be based in Orlando.

The senior team, who will travel to the British Virgin Islands for the first leg of their first round qualifier on March 5, will start with an evening game against the University of Central Florida on Friday, February 18.

They will follow that with tough fixtures against MLS teams Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion over the following two days.

The under-23 squad, who face Olympic qualifers against Panama and Cuba in Panama City in April, will start with a game against New York Metro Stars of the MLS on February 17.

The following day they will meet the US under-20s and the day after that they will take on the University of Tampa.

All the matches will be played close to Orlando, except the Miami Fusion fixture which will be played in Fort Lauderdale.

When Best revealed the news exclusively to The Royal Gazette last night he summed up his feelings with the words: "We are in seventh heaven.'' Best and Calderon have been working on arranging the tour for more than two months and Best said the last piece in the jigsaw was yesterday's confirmation of the New York fixture.

Calderon said: "This is exactly what we have been asking for. The timing is good because it's two weeks before we play the BVI and it should help us to get match fit. Also the Floridian weather will be in keeping with that of the BVI and other Caribbean nations should we advance, so that is another reason why this tour will be valuable.'' Best conceded the tour would be expensive and he was not aware whether the BFA had acquired extra sponsorship to pay for it. But he added that there were some factors which had made it more affordable.

"We have cut as many corners as possible,'' said Best. "The hotels gave us good prices and the air fares are pretty cheap at this time of year.

"They will both be playing three quality teams in three days and the players with aspirations of playing professionally will have a chance to show what they can do.'' Some under-23 players, such as Tokia Russell, Kofi Dill, Joey Rego, Blenn Bean, John Barry Nusum, Rohaan Simons and Stephen Astwood, are knocking on the senior squad door and they are likely to be tried in both teams.

Mark Trott and Dennis Brown will coach the under-23s, while Best and Calderon will deal with the senior squad.

Best conceded it would be a tough schedule for both teams, but felt it would be good for them.

"After watching the under-23s play two games in two days in Florida last year, I think it will help them to get match fit,'' said Best.