The 7v7 World Championships returns to North Carolina as teams from around the world compete for the $1 million men's, women's prizes

CARY, N.C. – The morning air at WakeMed Soccer Park carried a quiet buzz on Monday, as players from across the globe trickled into the stadium for the first of two media days. The grass was damp but freshly trimmed, the breeze offering brief relief from the early North Carolina heat.

Some arrived juggling a ball, others slung boot bags over their shoulders. Most smiled. But all had the same look – focused, sharp. They didn’t come for vacation.

They came to win. After all, there’s a million dollars on the line.

The Soccer Tournament 2025 is back. The 7v7 World Championships have returned, and the $1 million prize pool returns in both the men's and women's divisions. Six days, 134 total matches, 64 teams in the winner-takes-all competition.

"I'm here to win, of course," former MLS MVP and Italy international Sebastian Giovinco told GOAL on Monday at TST Media Day. "I love the game, whenever I can play, it's always a pleasure."

Giovinco, who scored six goals last year in a breakout first campaign at TST, returns with Kwik GOAL FC in 2025, alongside former U.S. international Jimmy Conrad and former two-time MLS MVP and Canada star Dwayne De Rosario.

In 2024, over 70,000 fans made their way to WakeMed for the tournament, and with it being bigger and better than ever in 2025, there are expectations that they will surpass that mark as stars take center stage this year.

"I think that's what's really cool," co-founder and NBA star Chris Paul told WRAL. "Over the years, we've had a number of people, right? Obviously, Hope [Solo] is there. It's really cool to see Mia Hamm there coaching [the U.S. Women], to see [Chad] Ochocinco there, to see J.J. Watt there, to see Steve Nash and whatnot, and then even some of the teams that come [like] Wrexham, Dortmund — whatever team it may be, to see some of the guys [it's cool].

"This isn't just messing around. This is a million dollars on the line. So to see the competitiveness that goes into TST, I think that is what makes it special."

In the third year of the tournament, the competition is slated to bring some of the world's most exciting clubs to the U.S., with representatives from Germany, England, Italy, Spain – among others – all competing for the million-dollar prize.

GOAL takes a look at this year's competition, sharing some mouth-watering Group Stage matchups, looking at players to watch, the history of the tournament, and more.

The Soccer TournamentWhat fans need to know: Key players, teams, dates

Key men's players and teams: Sergio Aguero and Seleccion Potrero, Luis Nani and Nani SC, Marc Albrighton and Wrexham Red Dragons, Pat McAfee and THE CONCAFA SC

Key women's players and teams: Hope Solo and Solo SC, Carli Lloyd and US Women, Jenny Chiu and Speedy Turtles

Group Stage outline: TST’s men’s bracket splits up 48 teams into 12 groups of four, while in the women’s tournament, the 16 teams are split into four groups of four.

Key dates and streaming information: Everything fans need to know for key dates of the competition, where to watch each match, and when all the action goes down can be found in GOAL'sguide.

AdvertisementThe Soccer TournamentRules and regulations

Matches are played seven versus seven, with 20-minute halves on 65×45-yard grass pitches. Slide tackling is not allowed, and there are zero draws.

At the end of regulation, matches go into Target Score Time – a TST-exclusive format that is implemented at the end of regulation.

Target Score Time

Target Score Time guarantees each match ends with a game-winning goal. After the full-time whistle, a Target Score is set that is calculated from the leading team's score plus one. The teams then play an untimed period of play called Target Score Time until one of them reaches the target score. To amplify the intensity, a player is removed from each team every three minutes until the Target Score is reached.

The Soccer Tournament Must-watch men's group stage matches

+ Seleccion Potrero (Sergio Aguero's team) vs Atletico de Madrid – June 4, 8 p.m. ET (YouTube)

+ Borussia Dortmund vs Plymouth Argyle – June 5, 12:30 p.m. ET (YouTube)

+ Nani FC vs Club America – June 5, p.m. ET (YouTube)

+ Wrexham Red Dragons vs The CONCAFA SC – June 5, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)

Among the matches to watch, Paul is eagerly anticipating watching CONCAFA vs. Wrexham at TST.

“That is going to be crazy,” he said. “First of all, because Pat [McAfee's] following is like none other. Obviously, Pat does the show from there, so this team is already going to be energised and excited, but no one really travels to the TST like Wrexham.

“Wrexham shows up in a whole different way, it’s red everywhere in that stadium! The only team that probably travels better is the women’s national soccer team, so that game against Wrexham, that’s going to be a good one."

AFPMust-watch women's group stage matches

+ Wrexham Red Dragons vs. KC Current II – June 6, 5 p.m. ET (YouTube)

+ US Women vs. Angel City 7s – June 6, 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)

+ Solo FC vs. Streetball FC Canada – June 6, 8 p.m. ET (YouTube)

Solo said is looking to get back on the pitch for the first time since she retired in 2016.

"I am incredibly excited not only to enter Solo FC in The Soccer Tournament but also make my comeback to the field at one of the most exciting events in soccer right now,” Solo said announcing her entry in the competition. “TST has done some amazing things to grow the game for women and I’m proud to be a part of it. I’m as competitive as ever, and I can’t wait to unveil the team that will win the $1 million grand prize.”