USA soccer legend Landon Donovan and Cesc Fabregas become latest stars to join The Soccer Tournament
American football legend Landon Donovan and Cesc Fabregas are the latest stars to join The Soccer Tournament, while a brand new 7-a-side event also picks up former NFL player Chad Johnson
- Landon Donovan and Cesc Fabregas have joined Clint Dempsey as contestants
- Wrexham and Borussia Dortmund also send teams to the event
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Landon Donovan and Cesc Fabregas head to Cary, North Carolina this summer to play in The Soccer Tournament, a seven-a-side event that also features delegations from Borussia Dortmund, West Ham and Wrexham.
Fabregas, who plays for and co-owns Serie B side Como 1907, will play for and coach the team in the tournament, while Donovan will play for his former LA Galaxy teammate Mike Magee’s Sneaky Fox FC.
The pair will also be joined by former Bengals star Chad Johnson, who will match with FC Cincinnati alumni team Nati SC, while Mia Hamm will be one of the former national team stars coaching the US Women.
The tournament also received a prior commitment from former USA, Fulham and Spurs star Clint Dempsey, whose eponymous squad was one of the first two teams announced for the event last year.
The $1 million winner-takes-all tournament will run from June 1-4 and announced the eight groups of 32 teams on Thursday.
Cesc Fabregas will be a player-coach for Serie B side Como in The Soccer Tournament
And Landon Donovan fits in next to former Galaxy teammate Mike Magee
Notably, Dempsey and Donovan (as well as former US teammates Eddie Johnson and Jermaine Jones) will compete in Group G, while Fabregas will play against a team from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s club Wrexham.
Other big names to sign up include Carlton Cole and Anton Ferdinand for West Ham, goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller for Dortmund and also influencer Noah Beck for Black and Yellow.
Wolves will also field a team of “former legends and talented academy prospects,” while former USMNT stars Geoff Cameron and Brek Shea will play at Blade and Grass FC along with other ex-Premier League players such as Stephen Ireland, according to ESPN.
“Our launch not only speaks to the passion for the sport in America, but also to the power of seven-a-side football,” said TST founder and CEO Jon Mugar in a press release.
Chad Johnson will tap into his Cincinnati roots by adapting for Nati SC this summer
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham will also take part in the tournament
“We have no idea who or what style of play will walk away with $1 million!”
Each team will play three matches in the group stage, with the top two of each advancing to the knockout round.
The tournament follows in the footsteps of The Basketball Tournament, a similar summer event that has seen former college and pro players compete for a $1 million prize since 2014.
Both tournaments are produced by TNT Enterprises.