Fresh off its 2023 debut, The Soccer Tournament (TST) kicks off its 2024 season on ESPN.
So, it’s only fitting that one of the network’s most visible faces, Pat McAfee, will be suiting up and leading his own team — the CONCAFA Soccer Club — in the 7v7 competition this June.
TST announced Wednesday that McAfee will be on the pitch in June as the men’s tournament has expanded to 48 teams from 32.
https://twitter.com/TST7v7/status/1778099055937151008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1778099055937151008%7Ctwgr%5Ed3fb52160bf50d3706f17a37bd1ea88b4c666b3c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTST7v7%2Fstatus%2F1778099055937151008
McAfee broke the news on The Pat McAfee Show Wednesday, with JJ Watt, co-owner of Premier League club Burnley FC, joining him as a guest. During the show, McAfee announced his participation in the TST, in addition to Watt’s Burnley FC, which will field teams in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE COMPANY
I HAVE A TEAM IN @TST7v7 AS WELL
We’ll be releasing our STACKED roster next week..
Head Coach of our team will be @TMeola1 #PMSLive https://t.co/XNGgIYIE6I pic.twitter.com/PtGmyF53bi
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 10, 2024
In addition to McAfee’s CONCAFA SC, former Manchester rivals Nani and Mario Balotelli will team up on Nani FC, while noted Fox soccer analyst and former NFL player Chad Johnson will play for Nati SC. Sire Seven features several ex-Premier League players, including Tom Huddlestone, Stephen Ireland, Ravel Morrison, and Premier League champion Danny Simpson, while Saturdays Football lists Cruz Beckham (one of David’s sons) on its roster.
Players like Sergio Agüero and Freddy Adu are reportedly participating in the $1 million tournament.
McAfee isn’t just putting together a team for the TST; he’s allegedly building a powerhouse. Though the full roster remains under wraps until next week — and according to McAfee, it’ll be “stacked” — he revealed that he will be lacing up his cleats.
In turn, Tony Meola, a legendary goalkeeper for the United States men’s national team who played in the 1990, 1994, and 2002 World Cups, will lead McAfee’s TST squad.
Despite a 15-year absence from organized soccer, McAfee is dusting off his cleats and making a comeback. His extensive background in the sport, which paved the way for his successful punting career with the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL, will undoubtedly be an asset.
Additionally, McAfee announced that he would be doing the show live at The Soccer Tournament in Cary, North Carolina.
[The Pat McAfee Show on X]
