Alabama club playing for $1M in The Soccer Tournament final
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In just its third year of existence, The Soccer Tournament (TST) has seen a massive rise in popularity.
The organization, which was first known for creating The Basketball Tournament in 2014, brings together 64 teams from across the country to compete in a 7v7 tournament for a $1 million prize.
Now, there’s just two teams left in the 2025 tournament and one of them is from right here in Alabama. Here’s what you need to know before the championship game:
- What: Pumas de Alabama vs. Bumpy Pitch FC
- When: Monday, June 9 | 8:30PM
- Where: Cary, N.C.
- Watch: ESPNU
Keep reading to learn more about the tournament + Pumas path to the championship game.
Pumas de Alabama
The club’s path to the title game started well before making the trip to North Carolina.
Pumas FC originated in Birmingham as an NPSL team in 1999 before leaving the league in 2011. However, the name still held meaning throughout the state’s soccer community.
Enter this year’s Pumas de Alabama squad.
“Pumas de Alabama, a rising force in the U.S. amateur soccer scene, is set to compete in The Soccer Tournament, bringing their dynamic style and passionate play to the global stage. Known for their strong Latino roots and community-driven approach, the team has made waves with their high-energy performances and skilled roster.”
The Soccer Tournament
While many of the players are from Mexico, the club’s owner is from Alabama. Before the tournament, the team got a training session in at the Campo X Birmingham facility just off Valleydale Road in Hoover.
“We really appreciated them taking us into consideration for some of their training sessions. It was very cool to witness how they trained. Our field is 10 yards smaller with slightly bigger goals (which we will be replacing with 6.5×18.5 goals, same as TST goal sizes),but it served as a great training space for Pumas Alabama. We are excited to have them back again!”
Campo X Birmingham
Pumas won all three group stage games to set the tone for the tournament + send a warning sign to the rest of the field that the tournament newcomers were a force.
The team took it up another level for the knockout rounds, winning all four matches by multiple goals.
Pumas took down 2023 champion Newtown Pride in the quarterfinals before dispatching The Concacafa Soccer Club, led by ESPN personality Pat McAfee and former US national player Brek Shea, in the semifinals.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Pumas de Alabama + make sure to tune into ESPNU Monday night for the championship.
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