Soccer Steps Up Its Game

An estimated 265 million people in more than 200 countries play soccer, making it the most popular sport in the world. In the U.S., soccer has seen its popularity rise and fall, but expect the sport to get a massive boost as North America gears up to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and this summer, the FIFA Club World Cup.
 

The most recent research available from the Physical Activity Council, from year-end 2023, puts U.S. participation at more than 14 million players for outdoor soccer and six million for the indoor game; both figures continuing the sport’s robust growth over the last five years.
 

Expect interest and participation in soccer to continue to grow, as many venues across the country are already experiencing.

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Aurora, Illinois

One of the most expansive outdoor, flat-field sports venues in the Midwest is Stuart Sports Complex, capable of hosting large events and tournaments across its 317 acres.
 

“The Stuart Sports Complex is one of the best in the country, with 32 multi-purpose fields. We’ve hosted events with more than 30 concurrent soccer matches,” says Brad Banks, Sports Sales Manager for the Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
 

“Soccer is a huge staple in our community, and we take great pride in how we accommodate the sport, players and fans,” adds CVB Director of Marketing James Cardis. “And the staff does an amazing job, week in and week out, with keeping tournaments organized and running well.”
 

Stuart can accommodate a variety of sports, including lacrosse, flag football, ultimate and more, and every year, more than 4,000 athletic contests are held there, involving upwards of 75,000 participants and attracting well over 100,000 spectators. The facility also is the hub for dozens of local sports groups, including soccer, and is home turf for a number of high school and college teams.
 

The nearby towns of Aurora, Montgomery and Sugar Grove (all less than a five-minute drive from Stuart) offer plenty of choices for lodging, restaurants, shopping, entertainment and recreation. The CVB helps support large events and tournaments with additional marketing, discounts to local attractions and securing hotel room blocks.
 

Central Florida Sports

Central Florida’s Polk County is a beautiful locale, with ideal weather, with multiple top-notch soccer facilities.
 

The epicenter of youth soccer in the State of Florida, Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale, is home to the Florida Youth Soccer Association state headquarters. This multi-purpose sports complex features 10 lighted fields and the 3,500-seat Orlando Health Soccer Stadium (with additional berm seating available).
 

Less than six miles away from Lake Myrtle is Simmers Young Park, which currently has five new turf fields and seven natural grass fields. In all, Polk County has more than 60 multi-purpose fields available. The area has hosted many major soccer events over the past few years, including the US Youth Soccer Southern Regionals, Florida High School Athletic Association State Soccer Finals, MLS training and exhibition games, Florida Adult Soccer Association Florida Classic and more.
 

“Our soccer facilities, plus the vacation offerings we have in Central Florida, rival any you will find in the country,” says Neal Duncan, Senior Sports & Special Events Manager for Visit Central Florida Sports, which can help connect tournament owners and organizers with the facilities in the area to find the best venue for their event. Off the field, Central Florida offers top vacation entertainment, from theme parks to nature preserves and other attractions.

Conway, Arkansas

Opening this spring (2025), the Conway Soccer Complex will feature 10 grass fields, a covered pavilion area and concession stand, splash pad, covered spectator seating and a walking trail around the 54-acre venue. “This new complex will have the highest quality grass fields in the middle of the city, close to shopping and restaurants,” says Rachel Shaw, the Executive Director of Visit Conway.
 

“Conway is investing in soccer because it is important to our community,” she adds. “In addition, our city park department hired a Soccer Director to work with event owners, manage the facility and make sure all soccer needs in Conway are a priority.” The existing Centennial Soccer Complex, with its 12 fields (four lighted) on 24.5 acres, will continue to be pressed into service.
 

Conway has hosted the Hog Wild 3v3 Live tournament for the past five years, drawing teams from across the region. “But now with our new soccer complex, we’re looking to draw even larger events,” Shaw notes.
 

Visit Conway can help events by promoting on social media and connecting event owners with hotels and restaurants, as well as helping them connect with local soccer clubs to find volunteers. Downtown Conway is full of local restaurants, boutiques, gift shops and family entertainment. Opening this summer is the Conway Community Center, which will feature an aquatics center with water slides, indoor and outdoor pools and a lazy river.
 

Greensboro, North Carolina

“Soccer is an integral part of Greensboro’s ‘Tournament Town’ identity,” says Dennis Edwards, National Sports Sales Manager for Visit Greensboro. “We strive to create great experiences for every event organizer. Our dedication to service, high-quality fields and a successful partnership with the team at NC Fusion help us showcase the great things about Greensboro.”
 

The Bryan Park Truist Soccer Complex is a state-of-the-art facility with 21 fields (four fields are turf, the other 17 are Bermuda grass). Fifteen of the fields have lights. The crown jewel of the complex is MacPherson Stadium, which can accommodate more than 2,000 spectators and has a press box, locker rooms and concessions.
 

Among the larger events Greensboro has hosted is the 2024 NC Fusion Adidas Clash, which brought in more than 500 teams from 10 states. The 2024 ECNL North Carolina event saw 169 teams, with 90 percent coming from out of state. Events this year include the 2025 NC Fusion Cup, ECNL North Carolina Girls Showcase, DPL East Regional and Girls Academy League Spring Showcase.
 

The CVB team can help organizers in a variety of ways, including offering facility rental, sponsorship assistance, hotel block assistance and access to a strong volunteer support system with the help of the Greensboro Sports Foundation.
 

Laredo, Texas

Laredo offers a variety of top-notch venues for soccer tournaments and events, including the premier PEG Energy Stadium, home to the Laredo Heat Soccer Club, which features a turf surface, seating for 5,000, luxury suites, concessions and restrooms, making it ideal for pro matches and large tournaments.
 

The Dustdevil Soccer Field at Texas A&M International University boasts a well-maintained natural grass field, with bleacher seating, locker rooms and plenty of space for spectators. Shirley Field at Laredo Independent School District is a multi-purpose stadium with an extensive seating. And the Bill Johnson Student Activity Center at United Independent School District features a large turf stadium that seats 8,500. Plus, there are other local venues that can host soccer events of all sizes.
 

“Soccer is at the heart of Laredo’s community,” says Joel Vazquez of the Laredo CVB. “With our unique location on the border, the sport bridges cultures and brings people together. The collaboration between the city, teams and event organizers ensures that every event is a success.” The community has hosted several regional, state and national tournaments, and the CVB assists with site visits, securing hotel blocks, bid presentation assistance, tournament catering and other services.
 

Adds Vazquez, “Whether it’s through our Laredo Heat or the tournaments we host, the city is dedicated to fostering the growth of soccer at all levels.”
 

Loudoun County, Virginia

In 2022, Loudoun County saw the opening of the 257-acre Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park in Aldie, Virginia, with 11 lighted, full-size soccer fields (two turf, nine grass) and amenities for players, fans and families such as playgrounds, splash pad, skate plaza, disc golf, ponds, fishing piers, pavilions, concessions and more. “The addition of Hanson really helps us up our game and attract even larger events,” says Torye Hurst, Director of Sales, Sports & Services for Visit Loudoun.
 

The county also has 10 lighted, multi-purpose fields (two turf, eight grass) at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park in Leesburg. Bolen Park also has nearly 200 acres of woods, meadows and stream valleys, as well as 3.5 miles of nature trails. Within the park is the 5,000-seat, turf Segra Field, home to Loudoun United FC, a professional soccer team in the USL Championship League. In Sterling, the Potomack Lakes Sportsplex offers six large, irrigated soccer fields (two turf).
 

Loudoun County, which is 25 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., has played host to large events, including in 2023, the US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional, with over 260 boys’ and girls’ teams from 13 states. That event will be back in June of both 2025 and 2026. In August, the area hosts a Premier Soccer Services event called the Copa Rayados East Coast that will have nearly 200 teams.
 

Lubbock, Texas

“Lubbock is a premier destination for soccer tournaments at every level, from youth leagues to national competitions,” says Scott Harrison, Director of Sports for Lubbock Sports. “With state-of-the-art facilities, a variety of accommodations and a community that embraces the sport, teams and fans enjoy an unmatched experience here.”
 

Among the top facilities is the 151-acre Berl Huffman Complex, which has more than 50 soccer fields, including premier championship fields that can host up to eight games simultaneously. The fields (including 350,000 square feet of synthetic turf) are flexible, too, to accommodate smaller size matches. The complex, located in North Lubbock just 11 minutes from the international airport, has areas for food trucks, multiple restroom facilities and covered bleachers and pavilions, as well as LED lighting.
 

Other venues include the LCU Soccer & Track Facility, which has portable bleachers, locker rooms, press box and training room, and the John Walker Soccer Complex, with a synthetic turf field, locker rooms and seating for 1,500 fans, as well as a video system. The three local school districts have eight fields available for soccer events, too.
 

Lubbock Sports and Visit Lubbock offer a variety of complimentary services for event owners, including comprehensive event proposals, welcome bags and signs, name badges and registration assistance.
 

Panama City Beach, Florida

The Publix Sports Park is a 200-acre complex with 13 full-size soccer fields (nine turf, four grass), each with seating, scoreboards, LED lighting and sound system. This year, says Chris O’Brien, Director of Sports Tourism for Visit Panama City Beach, the city approved $4.2 million to put turf on three of the four grass fields, and to add more parking.
 

“Soccer is definitely growing in our area,” O’Brien notes. “Our local parks and rec and club programs have produced a lot of outstanding players, and Arnold High School uses our fields for home matches, and they’ve won the state title.” Other complexes available for soccer events includes Frank Brown Park, with six grass fields.
 

In recent years, Panama City Beach hosted the SNAP Soccer Trident Cup, which brought in 150 teams and nearly 5,000 visitors. The USYS Club Nationals had 164 teams, and the PCB Classic nearly 130. Visit Panama City Beach can help event owners with logistics and planning support, hotel blocks, sponsorships and possible grants to offset costs.
 

Off the field, there is plenty to do for players and families in this world-class vacation spot, including the 27 miles of white-sand beaches, exciting attractions at Pier Park, fishing charters, great parks and nature areas, top-notch restaurants and other diversions. SDM