The upcoming Soccer Tournament is set to feature some exciting matchups, including Burnley co-owner J.J. Watt’s squad facing off against former NFL punter Pat McAfee’s team, Concafa SC. The tournament, which is a 7-on-7 event with a $1 million winner-take-all prize, is scheduled to take place from June 5-10 in Cary, North Carolina. The competition brackets have been announced, with the men’s bracket consisting of 48 teams split into 12 groups of four, and the women’s bracket comprising eight teams split into two groups of four.
Among the teams participating in the tournament, US Women, led by former United States teammates Ali Krieger and Heather O’Reilly, are set to go up against the Wrexham Red Dragons. Wrexham’s squad includes seven of their first-team players, with Rosie Hughes being a standout player featured on “Welcome to Wrexham.” Kealia Watt’s Burnley side will be facing off against NC Courage, a team captained by Watt’s former Houston Dash teammate and USWNT member Jessica McDonald. In addition, Formiga, the most capped player in Brazilian national team history, will be leading the new USL Super League side Tampa Bay Sun FC into action.
Fans of both soccer and NFL will be excited to see the return of former NFL player Chad Johnson to the Nati SC team for a second summer. Johnson previously represented FC Cincinnati’s alumni team in last year’s inaugural TST and will bring his skills back to the field for this year’s tournament. Bundesliga clubs Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are also set to face off in an exciting matchup scheduled for 5 p.m. on May 5.
Unique Tournament Format
The Soccer Tournament uses a World Cup-style format with custom rules that require every game to end on a goal, adding an extra layer of excitement and intensity to the matches. TST CEO Jon Mugar expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “We are looking forward to an extraordinary event in Cary,” highlighting the anticipation and buzz surrounding the upcoming tournament.
The Soccer Tournament promises to deliver thrilling and competitive matchups, featuring a mix of talented players and teams from various leagues and backgrounds. With the $1 million winner-take-all prize up for grabs, the stakes are high, and fans can expect nothing short of an action-packed and memorable tournament in Cary, North Carolina.