The Soccer Tournament Announces $1 Million Women’s Prize in New Competition
Eight-team event will return to Cary, North Carolina, in 2024
Posted On: December 6, 2023 By :The Soccer Tournament, the 7v7 event with a $1 million winner-take-all prize, has 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 event staying at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, from June 5-10, 2024.
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 in 2024 which will culminate in a championship game doubleheader on June 10.
“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 chief executive officer 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 player Heather O’Reilly, will headline the 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.
“I’m incredibly excited to be a part of TST’s inaugural women’s tournament,” said 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 to 48 teams this summer, with teams competing in 12 groups of four. 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 before the championship games on June 10. 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 inaugural TST along with clubs such as Wrexham AFC, Borussia Dortmund, West Ham United and Wolverhampton.
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