Global Teams Compete in 48-Team Men's and 16-Team Women's Tournaments for a $2 Million Prize Pool

Raleigh, N.C. (May 27, 2025) –  The Soccer Tournament (TST), the 7v7 event with a $1 million winner-take-all prize, will return to Cary's WakeMed Soccer Park from June 4-9, 2025. Dubbed the "Coachella for Soccer," TST brings players, clubs, fans and cuisines from all over the world to Cary. TST is more than just non-stop soccer – it's a celebration of the game and the fans who love it.

Building off the excitement of its first two sold-out years, TST returns to WakeMed Soccer Park in 2025 with its biggest and boldest event yet. This year's tournament will expand to a 16-team women's tournament and boast a 48-team men's tournament. Both star-studded tournaments will compete for their own $1 million winner-take-all prize, solidifying TST's status as the world's highest-stakes women's professional soccer event globally. The action-packed week will culminate in a doubleheader championship on June 9, with $2 million in prize money awarded. Last year alone, TST generated $9.2 million in direct economic impact for the area.

This year's men's and women's tournaments will feature teams representing 13 countries, including 12 major European and North American squads. On the men's side, three fan-favorite celebrity-led teams return to the pitch, including Pat McAfee's The CONCAFA SC, Sergio Agüero's Seleccion Potrero (previously known as Agüero Team) and Luis Nani's Nani FC. The women's competition will welcome back the U.S. Women, defending TST champions, who have added U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) legend Carli Lloyd to a powerhouse roster alongside her former teammates Ali Krieger and Heather O'Reilly. Joining the tournament this year is Solo FC, organized by former USWNT goalkeeper and World Cup winner Hope Solo, who will also be taking the field herself.

"The Town of Cary has been an amazing partner of our event," said TST founder and CEO Jon Mugar. "Each year, thousands of fans and world class players descend upon North Carolina for our 6-day festival and are blown away by the region's hospitality. We would not be where we are today without supportive, dedicated and welcoming partners like the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA)."

New this year, the Town of Cary and TST are collaborating to kick off the nation's first 7v7 youth soccer tournament featuring TST's revolutionary Target Score Time™. Taking place in Cary June 6-8, this groundbreaking event will offer a festival-like atmosphere at premier sports venues in the Cary area, including Apex's new Pleasant Park. Teams will compete for a spot in The Cary Cup finals on Sunday, June 8 at WakeMed Soccer Park, on the same fields that TST's biggest stars and celebrities compete. Ranked as one of Sports Business Journal’s Best Sports Business Cities for Soccer, the Triangle area is known for its vibrant community and love of the game. Home to world-class sports venues and a robust lineup of athletic programming, Cary is a natural fit to host premier sporting events like TST.

“In just two years, TST quickly established itself as one of the premier soccer events in the nation,” said Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. “Now entering year three, the excitement surrounding TST is greater than ever, and the Town of Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park has proven to be the perfect location for this celebration of soccer. Beyond the excitement of the tournament, TST delivers tremendous economic impact to our destination—driving tourism, filling hotels and restaurants and supporting local businesses throughout the region.”

 TST Men’s Schedule        TST Women’s Schedule 

The men's and women's events will conclude in a winner-take-all championship doubleheader on June 9 airing on ESPNU, with a total of $2 million in prize money awarded. Select matches for TST will be broadcast on the ESPN and ESPN+ networks in the United States. The Pat McAfee Show will air live on June 4 and June 5 during its regular time slots from noon-2pm EST on ESPN and noon-3pm EST on its YouTube channel from TST at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets to attend the event can do so at tst7v7.com/tickets.

About the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA):
A division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) – the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) markets and promotes Raleigh and all of Wake County to generate and/or retain sports-related businesses (tournaments, championships, special events and meetings) for economic development. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes 18.5 million visitors annually, whose spending tops $3.2 billion. The visitor economy supports nearly 26,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $307 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $712 in taxes annually. raleighsports.org

About The Soccer Tournament (TST):
The Soccer Tournament (TST) is the newest creation from The Tournament. TST is an open-application, million-dollar, winner-take-all competition. Teams will face off in a 48-team men’s bracket and 16-team women's bracket, each with a $1 million championship game. It will feature a 7v7 format and host teams from all across the world. For more information on TST and how to enter a team, visit tst7v7.com.

Media Contact:
Visit Raleigh
Dana Goodwin
Public Relations and International Tourism Manager
919.830.1289
dgoodwin@visitRaleigh.com

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