La Bombonera Win TST 2024 and Walk Away with $1 Million
Changing the landscape of tournaments forever …
In 2020, inspired by the success of The Basketball Tournament (TBT), soccer enthusiasts Mike Volk and Henry Tembon reached out to TBT founder Jon Mugar with an idea.
They envisioned applying TBT’s high-stakes, open-to-all model to soccer. Teaming up with Alecko Eskandarian and TBT co-founder Dan Friel, they embarked on creating a unique soccer event.
Thus, The Soccer Tournament (TST) was born, promising an unparalleled level of intensity, competitiveness, and skill.
TST represents TBT’s first venture beyond basketball, embracing an open-to-all format that includes teams from professional clubs, celebrity-backed squads, charities, college alumni sides, and supporter groups. Any team can apply, but only 48 teams will be selected to compete, with the winner taking home a $1 million prize. Second place will receive nothing, heightening the stakes and excitement.
The first TST competition took place in 2023, with teams from around the globe gathering to compete. The tournament quickly generated significant hype, and it’s back for 2024, aiming to build on TBT’s success. Financial backing from former U.S. national team player Clint Dempsey and NBA star Chris Paul has added extra publicity to the event.
Prize Money and Stakes
The allure of a substantial cash prize has been a cornerstone of TBT’s success. Starting with a $500,000 prize in 2014, TBT now offers $1 million to the champions. TST follows this model, with a $1 million cash prize for the winner of the men’s bracket. In 2024, TST expanded to include a women’s bracket, also offering a $1 million prize to the winner.
TST 2024: Schedule and Venue
The 2024 TST competition was held from June 5 to June 10 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. The well-known in the U.S. soccer community, regularly hosting NCAA College Cup tournaments and serving as the home of the NWSL side North Carolina Courage. It has also hosted U.S. national team matches.
Tournament Format and Rules
TST features a 7-on-7 format with 48 teams competing in a World Cup-style tournament. Each team consists of six outfield players plus a goalkeeper, with rosters of 10-18 players. The competition includes unlimited substitutions and no offside rule, making the games fast-paced and exciting.
The 48 teams are divided into twelve groups of four, with the top two teams from each group as well as some third place teams advancing to a knockout stage. The chief tiebreaker in group play is the head-to-head record, followed by goal differential.
Unique Feature: The Elam Ending
One of TST’s most distinctive rules is the Elam Ending. After two 20-minute halves, an untimed extra period begins, with the goal of reaching a target score set at one goal more than the highest-scoring team’s total at the end of regulation. If 10 minutes pass without a winner, one player from each team is removed every five minutes until a team reaches the target score. This rule ensures all games end on a goal, eliminating time-wasting and encouraging thrilling finishes.
Notable teams in TST 2024
The 2024 TST featured 32 men’s teams and a women’s bracket. Some notable teams include:
- Aguero Team: Led by Manchester City and Argentina legend Sergio Aguero.
- Concafa SC: Created by former NFL punter and media personality Pat McAfee.
- Nani FC: Formed by retired Man United star Nani, featuring Mario Balotelli and Dom Dwyer.
- Wrexham AFC: Owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, with both men’s and women’s teams.
- Inter Milan: Featuring Marco Materazzi and Georgios Karagounis.
- Kwik Goal FC: Formed by former U.S. national team players Jimmy Conrad and DaMarcus Beasley, joined by Sebastian Giovinco.
- Burnley FC: Featuring former NFL star JJ Watt and his wife, former NWSL veteran Kealia Watt.
- U.S. Women: A team of former U.S. women’s national team players, including Heather O’Reilly and Lori Lindsey, with Mia Hamm as coach.
- FC Bayern World Squad: Featuring players from all over the world selected by the Bundesliga Club
The 2024 TST was broadcast on ESPN, with 27 matches live on ESPN+ and select games on linear TV. This included the men’s and women’s championship matches, ensuring wide accessibility for fans.
TST 2024: The Champions
In a thrilling final, La Bombonera emerged victorious, defeating Nani FC with a resounding 4-0 victory. This win not only crowned them as the TST champions but also secured them the $1 million prize, highlighting the high-stakes and competitive nature of the tournament. The US Women were also crowned the winners of the inaugural tournament.
Building on the success of its inaugural event, TST 2025 promises to be an even bigger spectacle. With high stakes, a unique format, and a mix of legendary and current players, The Soccer Tournament is set to become a cornerstone event in the soccer calendar, offering fans a thrilling and engaging experience.
