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The Soccer Tournament returns.
The Coachella of soccer is almost here. Back for its fourth annual year, The Soccer Tournament is less of a textbook bracket tourney and more of a festival, competition and temporary village all rolled into one. Whether you’re a die-hard fútbol fanatic or don’t know what a corner kick is, there’s something here for you.
Dubbed the world’s premier 7v7 soccer fete, the tournament brings together star players and club teams from around the globe to go head-to-head at WakeMed Soccer Park May 27–June 1. The draw: a shot at three winner-takes-all prizes of $1M—decided across ~150 games over the course of six days.
And these aren’t your standard matches. Keeping things unpredictable—and fast—games start with two 19-minute halves, or “Target Score Time.” Once the clock runs out, the game shifts—the first team to reach the current leading team’s score plus one wins. Read: If it’s 3–2 at the buzzer, the first to 4 takes it.
The format guarantees every match ends on the hype of a goal—cue storm-the-field energy—and curbs the drag of a goalless game. Stirring the pot even more, one player is pulled from each side every three minutes after regulation. Upping the intensity, teams drop from 7-on-7 to 6-on-6, then 5-on-5—eventually down to 2-on-2.
Seven fields host three to five matches simultaneously, so the energy never dips. And instead of sitting 300 feet from the field, fans are encouraged to get close to the action.
“You have World Cup winners like Hope Solo, Heather O’Reilly and Carli Lloyd playing 10 yards in front of you,” emphasizes Public Relations Coordinator Freddy Stanley. “Sergio Agüero, who’s played in the World Cup for Argentina and won the Premier League with Manchester City, is out there playing—and you’re right next to the field.”
This year’s roster also includes standout stars Landon Donovan and Gerard Pique, with more global giants set to participate. Field footwork aside, select celebs will hold meet-and-greets, all included with your ticket.
Fueling the fun: Local and international F&B ops, live music, club stores and fan activations, plus kids’ clinics (with a potential trip to Italy on the line) dot the park to fill time between matches, or to just take the edge off of an intense game. So while the stakes may be high, the vibes promise to be even higher. May 27–June 1, WakeMed Soccer Park, tst7v7.com
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