The Soccer Tournament (TST), the 7v7 event with a $1 million winner-take-all prize, today announced its plans for an expanded 2024 event, featuring the addition of an eight-team women’s tournament for a separate $1 million prize. With the launch of the women’s tournament and an equal seven-figure prize, TST immediately becomes the highest stakes women’s professional soccer event in the world.
The expansion adds to TST’s momentum coming off of a sold out inaugural event, where more than 35,000 fans attended the 32-team tournament in June. The women’s tournament will run concurrently to TST’s expanded 48-team event at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina from June 5-10. TST 2024 will culminate in a championship game doubleheader on June 10, where a total of $2 million in prize money will be awarded.
“We are thrilled to add a third event to our portfolio and to have it be our highest stakes competition ever,” said Jon Mugar, founder and CEO of The Tournament. “This instantly becomes one of the highest stakes events in all of women’s sports, with the only thing standing between teams and one million dollars being four exceptional hours of soccer. This will attract some of the most talented players and clubs from around the world.”
US Women, a team organized by former U.S. Women’s National Team star Heather O’Reilly, will headline TST’s eight-team field. The women’s event, which kicks off June 7, will feature two groups with four teams in each. Two teams from each group will emerge to compete in the semifinals on June 9. TST will crown its first ever $1 million women’s champion on June 10.
“I’m incredibly excited to be a part of TST’s inaugural women’s tournament,” said former U.S. Women’s National Team star Heather O’Reilly “Their commitment to a $1 million prize for both men’s and women’s players is incredibly important in our ongoing fight for equal pay. This event will be a great addition to the women’s sports landscape, and I can’t wait to take part in it with some of my former national team teammates.”
TST’s original event will see an increase from 32 to 48 teams this summer, with teams competing in 12 groups of four June 5-6. Thirty-two teams will emerge from the group stage games to the knockout rounds on June 7. TST’s round of 16 and quarterfinals will take place on June 8, and the two semifinal matches will be played June 9. TST’s winner-take-all championship game will follow the conclusion of the women’s championship on June 10.
The inaugural TST included globally renowned clubs such as Wrexham AFC, Borussia Dortmund, West Ham, Wolverhampton, and sports stars like Clint Dempsey, Steve Nash, Cesc Fabregas, and Chad Johnson, among others. More than 25 players with U.S. National Team experience and a combined 1,444 caps on both the men’s and women’s side competed in the event, including Heather O’Reilly, Kirstine Lilly, Jermaine Jones, Eddie Johnson, Geoff Cameron, Jimmy Conrad, Chris Wondolowski, Brek Shea, and more.
TST, which is an open-entry event, received nearly 400 applicants for its 2023 tournament. Spots are still open for both 2024 events, and interested teams can apply by emailing TST@thetournament.com.
Fans can now purchase all-sessions passes for TST 2024, or sign up for the single-session waitlist at https://thetournament.com/tst/tickets.
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