There is a soccer event being held in North Carolina where you can watch Cesc Fabregas, Clint Dempsey, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, and Wrexham all take the field at the same time.
The Soccer Tournament, called "TST" for short, is holding its inaugural competition, riding the coattails of the wildly popular TBT, or The Basketball Tournament, which began in 2014.
The Basketball Tournament rose in popularity in part by introducing the "Elam Ending" to the world of basketball, and TST will look to emulate that with a similar format.
New rules, former star players, a World Cup format, and a massive $1 million cash prize are all on show at The Soccer Tournament. The Sporting News brings you all the details regarding this summer's debut event.
MORE: Recap the final as Newtown Pride win $1 million match, with highlights and more
What is The Soccer Tournament and where is it played?
The Soccer Tournament, or TST, is a 7-on-7 tournament that will award a $1 million cash prize to the last team standing, while the rest of the 31 teams in the field walks home with nothing.
The matches in the inaugural competition will take place between Thursday, June 1 and Sunday, June 4 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
The Soccer Tournament is set up like a World Cup with 32 teams, a group stage and single-elimination knockouts that begin in the Round of 16.
MORE: All the star players and key teams taking part in the 2023 TST
TST rules for The Soccer Tournament
Here's a rundown of what you need to know about the official tournament rules:
- 7-on-7 (six outfield player, plus a goalkeeper)
- Rosters of 10-18 players
- Unlimited subs which can be made at any point in a game
- No offside rule
- No slide tackles
- No throw-ins
- No draws
- 20-minute halves followed by an Elam Ending (called "Target Score Time")
TST's most notable rule quirk is the "Elam Ending" introduced in The Basketball Tournament to rave reviews.
Here's how it works in The Soccer Tournament: Matches consist of two 20-minute halves, after which the game is not over. It enters "Target Score Time" which is not timed (i.e. no clock).
To win the game, one of the teams needs to hit the target score, which is always one more goal than the total scored by the highest-scoring team at the end of 40 minutes of regulation.
For example, if the score is 3-1 at the end of regulation, the target score for either team to hit becomes 4 (one more than 3), and the first team that reaches 4 goals wins the game.
Should 10 minutes elapse in this untimed period without the target score reached, one player will be removed from each team to create a more open game. An additional player will be removed from each side every five minutes until one of the teams reaches the target score.
The "Elam Ending" ensures there are no draws, and every game ends on a goal being scored.
2023 TST schedule, standings
The group stage will take place from June 1-2, while the knockout stage takes place June 2-4.
The winner of the competition will take home the full $1 million cash prize, with all 31 other teams going home with nothing.
The bracket has been predetermined, with eight groups of four teams each set to contest the opening stage. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 16.
If teams are tied on points in the group stage, head-to-head record is the first tiebreaker, followed by goal differential.
TST 2023 group stage
TST Group A standings
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Newtown Pride FC-Q | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 |
| 2. Kingdom FC-Q | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 | +6 |
| 3. Hoosier Army-E | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +4 |
| 4. Borussia Dortmund-E | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 20 | -17 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
TST Group A schedule
| Date | Match |
| Thu, June 1 | B. Dortmund 2-5 Hoosier's Army |
| Thu, June 1 | Kingdom FC 2-1 Newtown Pride FC |
| Thu, June 1 | B. Dortmund 0-8 Newtown Pride FC |
| Thu, June 1 | Hoosier's Army 5-4 Kingdom FC |
| Fri, June 2 | B. Dortmund 1-7 Kingdom FC |
| Fri, June 2 | Hoosier's Army 1-3 Newtown Pride FC |
TST Group B standings
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Blade & Grass FC-Q | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 6 | +3 |
| 2. DMV Diplomats-Q | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 3. Wolves-E | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 12 | -1 |
| 4. Villita FC-E | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 11 | -2 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
TST Group B schedule
| Date | Match |
| Thu, June 1 | Wolves 3-6 Villita FC |
| Thu, June 1 | Blade & Grass 3-2 DMV Diplomats |
| Thu, June 1 | Blade & Grass 4-3 Wolves |
| Thu, June 1 | DMV Diplomats 6-2 Villita FC |
| Fri, June 2 | DMV Diplomats 2-5 Wolves FC |
| Fri, June 2 | Blade & Grass 2-1 Villita FC |
TST Group C standings
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hapoel Tel Aviv-Q | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 5 | +8 |
| 2. SLC FC-Q | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 |
| 3. Club Necaxa-E | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 10 | -1 |
| 4. Virginia Dream-E | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 | -8 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
TST Group C schedule
| Date | Match |
| Thu, June 1 | Club Necaxa 3-4 SLC FC |
| Thu, June 1 | Hapoel Tel Aviv 6-1 Virginia Dream |
| Thu, June 1 | Club Necaxa 2-3 Hapoel Tel Aviv |
| Thu, June 1 | SLC FC 2-0 Virginia Dream |
| Fri, June 2 | Hapoel Tel Aviv 4-2 SLC FC |
| Fri, June 2 | Club Necaxa 4-3 Virginia Dream |
TST Group D standings
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Culture by Mo Ali FC-Q | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| 2. Far East United-Q | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 3. West Ham-E | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 |
| 4. Dallas United*** | — | — | — | — | — | — |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
TST Group D schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) |
| Thu, June 1 | Far East United 4-2 West Ham | |
| Thu, June 1 | Culture by Mo Ali FC 3-1 Dallas United | |
| Thu, June 1 | Dallas United 2-0*** West Ham | |
| Thu, June 1 | Culture by Mo Ali FC 2-0 Far East United | |
| Fri, June 2 | Culture by Mo Ali FC 3-4 West Ham | |
| Fri, June 2 | Cancelled |
** = Dallas United vs. West Ham was suspended "pending an investigation into allegations of use or intent to use a racial slur." Dallas was leading 2-0 at the time.
The investigation concluded that "Dallas United violated TST's code of conduct" and that "the best path forward is Dallas United withdrawing from the competition," according to a statement from organizers.
Organizers also subsequently cancelled Dallas United's final match vs. Far East United.
TST Group E standings
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wrexham-Q | 3 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 3 | +20 |
| 2. Como 1907-Q | 3 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 |
| 3. Say Word FC-E | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 14 | -5 |
| 4. US Women-E | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 24 | -23 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
TST Group E schedule
| Date | Match |
| Thu, June 1 | US Women 0-5 Say Word FC |
| Thu, June 1 | Como 1907 2-3 Wrexham |
| Thu, June 1 | US Women 0-12 Wrexham |
| Thu, June 1 | Como 1907 6-3 Say Word FC |
| Fri, June 2 | Say Word FC 1-8 Wrexham |
| Fri, June 2 | Como 1907 7-1 US Women |
TST Group F standings
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hashtag Utd-Q | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 8 | +5 |
| 2. Conrad & Beasley Utd-Q | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 3. Nati SC-E | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 10 | -1 |
| 4. Gracie FC-E | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | -4 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
TST Group F schedule
| Date | Match |
| Thu, June 1 | Hashtag United 4-3 Nati SC |
| Thu, June 1 | Conrad & Beasley 4-3 Gracie FC |
| Thu, June 1 | Conrad & Beasley 3-6 Hashtag United |
| Thu, June 1 | Gracie FC 1-3 Nati SC |
| Fri, June 2 | Conrad & Beasley 5-3 Nati SC |
| Fri, June 2 | Gracie FC 2-3 Hashtag United |
TST Group G standings
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sneaky Fox FC-Q | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 |
| 2. ZALA FFF-Q | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | +4 |
| 3. Jackson TN Boom-E | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 11 | -3 |
| 4. Team Dempsey-E | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 14 | -8 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
TST Group G schedule
| Date | Match |
| Thu, June 1 | Team Dempsey 5-4 Jackson TN Boom |
| Thu, June 1 | Sneaky Fox 3-2 ZALA FFF |
| Thu, June 1 | Sneaky Fox 3-0 Team Dempsey |
| Thu, June 1 | Jackson TN Boom 4-3 ZALA FFF |
| Fri, June 2 | Team Dempsey 1-7 ZALA FFF |
| Fri, June 2 | Jackson TN Boom 1-3 Sneaky Fox |
TST Group H standings
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Raleigh Rebels-Q | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 6 | +7 |
| 2. Duke Sevens-Q | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | -1 |
| 3. N. Carolina FC-E | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | +2 |
| 4. Charlotte FC-E | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 13 | -7 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
TST Group H schedule
| Date | Match |
| Thu, June 1 | Charlotte FC 3-6 North Carolina FC |
| Thu, June 1 | Duke Sevens 0-5 Raleigh Rebels |
| Thu, June 1 | Charlotte FC 2-5 Duke Sevens |
| Thu, June 1 | North Carolina FC 5-6 Raleigh Rebels |
| Fri, June 2 | Charlotte FC 1-2 Raleigh Rebels |
| Fri, June 2 | Duke Sevens 3-1 North Carolina FC |
TST Knockout Stage
Round of 16
| Match No. | Date | Match |
| 1 | Fri, June 2 | Newtown Pride (A1) 4-0 DMV Diplomats (B2) |
| 2 | Fri, June 2 | Hapoel Tel Aviv (C1) 2-1 Far East United (D2) |
| 3 | Fri, June 2 | Wrexham Red Dragons (E1) 3-4 Conrad & Beasley (F2) |
| 4 | Fri, June 2 | Sneaky Fox FC (G1) 2-1 Duke Sevens (H2) |
| 5 | Fri, June 2 | Blade & Grass FC (B1) 4-3 Kingdom FC (A2) |
| 6 | Fri, June 2 | Culture by Mo Ali (D1) 3-4 SLC FC (C2) |
| 7 | Fri, June 2 | Hashtag United (F1) 1-2 Como 1907 (E2) |
| 8 | Fri, June 2 | Raleigh Rebels (H1) 3-4 Zala FFF (G2) |
Quarterfinals
| Match No. | Date | Match |
| 1 | Sat, June 3 | Newtown Pride 3-1 Hapoel Tel Aviv |
| 2 | Sat. June 3 | Conrad & Beasley 1-2 Sneaky Fox FC |
| 3 | Sat. June 3 | Blade & Grass FC 2-3 SLC FC |
| 4 | Sat. June 3 | Como 1907 3-4 Zala FFF |
Semifinals
| Date | Match |
| Sat, June 3 | Newtown Pride 4-1 Sneaky Fox FC |
| Sat, June 3 | SLC FC 1-0 Zala FFF |
Final
| Date | Match | |
| June 4 | Newtown Pride 2-0 SLC FC | RECAP |