North Carolina Secures TST in Cary Through 2029 with $6.8M State Grant

The Soccer Tournament (TST), widely regarded as the world’s premier 7v7 soccer festival, will remain at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina through 2029. The decision follows a major funding boost from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, which has awarded a $6.8 million grant from the Major Events, Games, and

Attractions Fund. The support reflects the tournament’s growing role in boosting tourism, generating revenue, and putting North Carolina on the global soccer map.

Emmanuel Martinez interviews Drip FC after beating Club America to move into the playoffs.

Since debuting in 2023, TST has grown rapidly. The 2025 edition featured over 2,000 players from 34 countries, representing global clubs like Atlético de Madrid, Club América, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, and Wrexham AFC. The tournament also drew stars like Sergio Agüero, Carli Lloyd, Pat McAfee, Hope Solo, and Chris Paul, who co-owns TST. Attendance in 2025 reached 51,730, nearly doubling the event’s previous size. According to local estimates, the event generated $14.7 million in direct economic impact, with over 20,000 hotel room nights booked and $3.8 million spent on lodging and transportation alone.

A Growing Soccer Festival with Local Ties

US Womens TST Celebrate as they move on to the semifinals of TST 2025. Photo: Miguel Sanchez for Football Club Magazine / TheEditorial.org

The Town of Cary has hosted the tournament since its inception, and the partnership has been crucial to TST’s rise. WakeMed Soccer Park’s 158-acre layout offers professional-grade fields and a fan-friendly atmosphere that has supported the tournament’s expanding fan experiences, including live tapings of ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show, international food options, and club activations.

As part of the new agreement, The Cary Cup—TST’s youth competition—will also return annually. In 2025, more than 130 teams from across the U.S. participated. The format used Target Score Time™, mimicking the main tournament’s innovative structure.

TST has become a top-tier economic and cultural event for Wake County. Since 2024, it has generated $23.9 million in total economic impact, with 87% of attendees saying they would recommend the event, and 80% calling it the best soccer experience of the year.

Applications for teams to enter TST 2026 are now open at tst7v7.com. Details about dates, matchups, and fan activations will be released in the coming months. In celebration of the four-year extension, a Kickoff Party will be held November 18 at Sports & Social in Fenton, including giveaways and a live USA vs. Uruguay watch party.

The partnership highlights how North Carolina, and especially Cary, continues to grow as a global hub for soccer innovation and fan engagement.