West Ham United have learned their group-stage opponents for The Soccer Tournament (TST), a $1million, winner-takes-all, 7v7 world championship event being hosted in the United States this June.
The Hammers are sending a 14-person squad to WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina for the inaugural TST, which will pit 32 teams from all over the world in competition between 1-4 June.
Managed by Apprentice and Celebrity MasterChef star, TV personality and Hammers supporter Tom Skinner, the Irons will be represented by West Ham legends Carlton Cole, Marlon Harewood, Anton Ferdinand, Jimmy Walker, Elliot Ward and Zavon Hines, with more squad members to be revealed in the coming days.
West Ham have been drawn in Group D alongside Culture by Mo Ali FC, Dallas United and Far East United.
- West Ham United v Far East United, Thursday 1 June, 10.30am EDT (3.30pm BST)
- West Ham United v Dallas United, Thursday 1 June, 6.30pm EDT (11.30pm BST)
- West Ham United v Culture By Mo Ali FC, Friday 2 June, 10.30am EDT (3.30pm BST)
Culture by Mo Ali FC is the creation of content producer, and football skills trainer Mo Ali Heydarpour, who has worked with some of the world’s biggest clubs and players, Texas-based Dallas United has been formed by a partnership between social media influencer Castro1021 and the Dallas Soccer Alliance, while Far East United is a collection of current and former national team players from across Asia, led by Philippines legend Anton Del Rosario.
Among the other 28 clubs taking part are Borussia Dortmund, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham Red Dragons, Club Necaxa of Mexico, Hapoel Tel Aviv of Israel, Como of Italy, Spencer Owen’s Hashtag United, US Women and a host of teams from across North America.
The 32 entrants will play in a World Cup format, with eight groups, then four knockout rounds to produce a winner, who will take home a $1million prize.
The LEGENED, @iamtomskinner, had to make an appearance on our reveal show to talk @WestHam & TST⚒️ ⚒️ ⚒️
— TST (@TST7v7) May 4, 2023
BOSH!
Watch the whole show here: https://t.co/zjeBOTql3Z pic.twitter.com/1EJMfK16Du
Despite the strong level of competition, manager Skinner is optimistic of the Hammers’ chances of bringing the trophy back to east London.
“We have got some very, very exciting players!" he confirmed. "I've been in the gym every day and I'm going to be running up and down and doing the best I can do.
"It just shows you how big TST is. We are coming all the way out there from east London and are playing against a team from the Far East, which shows you it's massive, just like West Ham!"
Skinner is also planning to spread the West Ham Way on the other side of the Atlantic, as the Hammers did when the men’s first-team squad visited Cary and Seattle, Washington, for a pre-season tour in 2016, and at the MLS All-Star Game in Toronto, Canada, in 2008.
“We’re out in the US and we’re going to go out there and show everyone what West Ham is,” he explained. “We’re a family club, everyone knows West Ham and we’re going to spread it over to the US and show them what we’re all about.”
TST Founder and CEO Jon Mugar added: “We are excited to see West Ham United roll its team out. Not only is the Club almost 130 years old, but it is also forward-thinking enough to embrace the stakes and excitement of the TST model. This will be an exciting team to follow.”
To find out more about TST or to join the ticket waiting list, visit TheTournament.com/TST, or follow The Soccer Tournament on Twitter.
