The Soccer Tournament (TST), the annual 7v7 global soccer festival featuring three $1 million winner-take-all prizes, today announced the addition of a new event for 2026: TST’s Soccer Home Run Derby.
Developed in collaboration with USA Baseball, the Soccer Home Run Derby blends the iconic format of baseball’s Home Run Derby with the creativity and skill of world-class soccer players. The inaugural event will take place on Thursday, May 28, during the second day of TST 2026, inside the festival grounds at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.
“We’re thrilled to partner with TST on the launch of the Soccer Home Run Derby and to welcome another innovative and exciting event to Cary,” said Paul Seiler, Executive Director/CEO of USA Baseball. “This is a fun and really unique opportunity to bring together elements of baseball and soccer in a way that we and U.S. Soccer can introduce our sports to new audiences worldwide. We look forward to being on-site for the inaugural event and seeing how this concept delivers an engaging and imaginative experience for fans.”
“The Soccer Home Run Derby brings an iconic American sports format to the beautiful game,” said TST founder and CEO Jon Mugar. “We are excited to work with USA Baseball to adapt the model to soccer. Fans in Cary should be in for a show.”
The competition will feature both men’s and women’s divisions, showcasing a mix of former professionals, current players, and TST fan-favorite personalities. The women’s field is headlined by U.S. Soccer World Cup champions Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, and Jessica McDonald, who have combined for four World Cup titles and 537 caps with the U.S. Women’s National Team. On the men’s side, Mexico and Club América legend Miguel Layún, former Villarreal CF standout Xisco Nadal, and arena soccer star Stefan Mijatovic will compete. Final participants for both divisions will be announced in the coming weeks.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the inaugural Soccer Home Run Derby!” said Carli Lloyd. “This event is a fantastic way to blend the excitement of soccer with a fun, competitive twist. It’s an opportunity to showcase our skills and connect with fans in a whole new way. TST continues to take their event to the next level!”
In TST’s Soccer Home Run Derby, players will attempt to kick as many “home runs” as possible by clearing an eight-foot fence on the fly, striking balls served by a pitcher on the ground by foot. Each participant will have one minute to record as many successful home runs as possible, with the top two advancing to a championship round. The final will feature a best-of-five, penalty shootout-style showdown, with competitors alternating attempts until a winner is crowned.
The Soccer Home Run Derby joins a growing list of new additions to TST 2026, including the debut of TST Mixed, a third $1 million winner-take-all competition featuring teams of men and women rotating on and off the field throughout each match. The 2026 event will also feature a Creator Game, bringing together some of the top soccer content creators and streamers from across the United States and beyond.
TST 2026 will once again showcase a global lineup of players, clubs, and celebrities. Confirmed participants include Landon Donovan, Hope Solo, Chad Ochocinco, Sergio Agüero, Gerard Piqué, Heather O’Reilly, Wrexham AFC, Villarreal CF, Club América, and more, with additional announcements to be made in the coming weeks.
Now entering its fourth year in Cary, TST continues to expand its global reach and influence. The 2025 event doubled the size of the women’s tournament to 16 teams and drew a record 51,730 fans. Nearly 2,000 players representing 34 countries competed across the men’s and women’s competitions.
