The Soccer Tournament
WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina, USA, 4-9 June 2025
West Ham United return to North Carolina, USA, this week, to take part in The Soccer Tournament (TST), a $1million, winner-takes-all 7v7 world championship event.
The Hammers are one of 48 teams from around the world competing between 4-9 June at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary for the high-stakes prize and the right to be crowned TST champions.
Having previously taken part in the inaugural TST in 2023, the Irons will this time be led by respected trainer and mentor Dillon Vedral and Club legend Anton Ferdinand as player-coach, together with a talented squad that’s been assembled from the worlds of sport, screen and social media.
We will be joined in North Carolina by teams representing British clubs AFC Bournemouth, Hashtag United, Plymouth Argyle and Wrexham, as well as sides hailing from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, and representing the Caribbean and South Asia.
2023 winners Newtown Pride FC of Connecticut and 2024 champions La Bombonera from Delaware are both in the field, while a 16-team women’s tournament will also take place, following the success of the inaugural competition in 2024, with former USWNT star-led US Women looking to defend their title.
As the countdown to the beginning of the competition continues, read on for everything you need to know ahead of our opening fixture against Brown Ballers FC on Wednesday...
How It Works…
TST will start with men's bracket group play on 4-5 June (Wednesday-Thursday), while women's group play will follow, taking place on 5-6 June (Thursday-Friday).
The top two men's teams from each group and the eight third-place teams with the highest points totals (32 total teams) will advance to the knockout stage, which will commence on 6 June. Round of 16 and quarter-final games will both be played on Saturday 7 June. Semi-finals will take place on the evening of Sunday 8 June and the $1 million championship game at 8.30pm EST on Monday 9 June (1.30am BST on Tuesday 10 June).
TST is truly one of a kind and has a number of different rules, including Target Score Time: The game must end on a goal!
This is one of the many unique features of TST. Following the conclusion of the two 20-minute halves, the teams will enter an untimed period to determine the winner. The official winner will be determined by the first team that reaches a predetermined target score.
In terms of squads, teams can have up to 18 players on the roster and seven players on the field, including the goalkeeper, while there are unlimited substitutions throughout the game and during any part of the match.
For more information, click HERE.
Who's Involved...
The men’s and women’s tournaments will showcase teams from 13 countries, along with 12 top-tier professional clubs from Europe and North America.
Alongside the Hammers in the men’s competition, Sergio Agüero, one of Manchester City’s greatest ever goalscorers, will take charge of his Selección Potrero side, while former Manchester United and Portugal star Luis Nani is set to feature with his team, Nani FC.
British clubs AFC Bournemouth, Hashtag United, Plymouth Argyle and Wrexham also take their place in the high-stakes, $1 million winner-takes-all tournament.
For a full look at the groups for the men's and women's tournaments, check out TST's official website.
The Hammers' Squad...
West Ham supporters need no introduction to some of our leaders for TST, with cult heroes James Collins, Ricardo Vaz Tê and Mauro Zárate having all been named in the Hammers’ squad.
Meanwhile, we’ve also acquired the services of India international winger Rahul KP and boyhood Hammer and Puerto Rico international Devin Vega.
Hammers fans, however, are unlikely to recognise the names of some of the other players who will represent the Club at TST this week, so click HERE to view the rest of our TST squad.
Opposition…
The Hammers have been drawn in Group G alongside La Liga’s Villarreal CF, Tenfifteen FC and Brown Ballers FC in North Carolina, while an added friendly against German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund has been scheduled at 6pm EST (11pm BST) on Monday 2 June.
West Ham will begin group play against Brown Ballers FC at 9.30am EST (2.30pm BST) on Wednesday 4 June.
Our second group-stage match will take place later the same day, against Villarreal CF, kicking-off at 5.30pm EST (10.30pm BST).
Our third group-stage game, against Tenfifteen FC, is scheduled for Thursday 5 June at 10am EST (3pm BST).
As mentioned above, the men's knockout stage will commence on Friday 6 June, with the top two teams from each group and the eight third-place teams with the highest points totals (32 total teams) advancing.
After round of 32, round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals matches, the last two teams standing will face off in the $1 million championship game at 8.30pm EST on Monday 9 June (1.30am BST on Tuesday 10 June).
How To Follow…
If you are interested in attending TST in-person, tickets are available to purchase HERE.
All three of West Ham’s group-stage games will be shown live on the Club's official YouTube channel, with streaming available to all fans outside the USA for the Villarreal and Tenfifteen fixtures, and to supporters worldwide for the Brown Ballers clash. Those in the US will be able to watch the Villarreal and Tenfifteen matches live on ESPNU.
You can recap the action via whufc.com and our app, and across our social media channels. We will also have exclusive reaction for you on our website and social media.
