A Global Game in a Southern City: International Soccer Finds a Home in Greater Raleigh

International soccer is thriving at a moment when fans of the beautiful game are craving global competition beyond the World Cup cycle. This spring and summer, Raleigh and Cary will host a robust lineup of internationally influenced tournaments and festivals including The Soccer Tournament (TST), The Cary Cup and a new youth boys’ tournament, the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) IBERCUP International launching over Labor Day Weekend. Greater Raleigh offers a compelling case study in how a Southern city is embracing the world’s game on and off the pitch.
 

The Soccer Tournament (TST), which features a $1 million prize for both the men’s and women’s fields, will be adding a third $1 million competition for the 2026 event: TST Mixed. TST Mixed will feature teams of men and women, shifting on and off the field throughout the match. 

Slated to take place May 27-June 1 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, the 2026 event marks the start of the new four-year partnership between TST and the Town of Cary, which establishes North Carolina as the long-term home for this international event. 

TST 2026 will feature 76 teams, over 2,000 athletes and 159 live matches over six days. Participating teams represent 15 countries, including clubs from eight different professional leagues from four continents. Notable professional clubs in the 2026 event include EFL Championship’s Wrexham AFC, LaLiga’s Villarreal CF, Serie A’s Cagliari Calcio, LigaMX’s Club America, South African Premiership’s Orlando Pirates, NWSL’s North Carolina Courage and more.  
 

Returning alongside TST is The Cary Cup. Introduced last year, The Cary Cup is a one‑of‑a‑kind 7v7 youth tournament running in coordination with TST that allows young athletes to compete using the same Target Score Time™ format and play championship matches on the same fields as the tournament’s professional stars at WakeMed Soccer Park.
 

Once again delivering world‑class star power, TST will feature globally recognized soccer legends Landon Donovan and Hope Solo, as well as the internationally known and celebrity-owned Wrexham Dragons.

These iconic names underscore the tournament’s global appeal and ability to attract audiences from around the world. Beyond the matches, TST will transform WakeMed Soccer Park into a week‑long fan festival, creating an atmosphere that reflects the international diversity of the tournament itself. 

The TST Fan Festival features live entertainment, celebrity and player meet‑and‑greets, youth clinics led by European coaches along with food and beverage offerings inspired by countries and clubs from around the world — all while watching world‑class competition just steps away.
 

TST will be nationally televised for the first time through a landmark broadcast partnership with NBC Sports. Seventeen matches from TST’s men’s, women’s and mixed tournaments will be presented live across NBC, NBCSN and Peacock. NBC Sports’ coverage will kick off on Saturday, May 30, and run through the completion of the event on Monday, June 1, where $3 million in total prizes will be up for grabs. 
 

Later this year at NCFC Youth’s WRAL Soccer Park, nearly 200 U11 and U12 boys’ teams from Europe, South America, Asia and the United States are expected to compete in 7v7 games during the ECNL IBERCUP International tournament through a mix of group and knockout stages, offering a unique competitive, developmental and cultural experience for players, teams, coaches and clubs. 

The IBERCUP is one of the most recognized and respected youth soccer tournaments in the world. The four-day tournament is part of IBERCUP’s long-term international growth vision and will be launched in partnership with the ECNL, the nation's leading youth soccer development platform for America's top soccer players.