BOSTON (AP) — Wrexham will play Como from Italy’s second tier, a U.S. Women side of former national team players led by Heather O’Reilly and a Say Word team paying homage to North Carolina and Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Group D of a seven-on-seven tournament from June 1-4 in Cary, North Carolina.
A Welsh club bought in 2020 by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham has been promoted to the fourth tier of English soccer for the 2023-24 season.
Cesc Fabregas, Chad OchoCinco Johnson, Mia Hamm and Noah Beck have committed to play in the $1 million, 32-team, winner-take-all event, called The Soccer Tournament, organizers said Thursday.
Others include Carlton Cole, Jermaine Jones, Eddie Johnson, Dwayne De Rosario, Jay DeMerit, Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea, Lori Lindsey, Kristine Lilly and Cat Whitehill.
Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley, Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, Heather Mitts and John Kerr are among the coaches.
Other groups are:
A: Borussia Dortmund, Hoosiers Army, Kingdom, Newtown Pride
B: Wolverhampton, Blade & Grass, Villita, DMV Diplomats
C: Necaxa, Hapoel Tel Aviv, SLC, Virginia Dream
D: West Ham, Dallas United, Culture by Mo Ali, Far East United
E: Wrexham, Como, US Women, Say Word
F: Hashtag United, Conrad & Beasley United, Nati, Gracie
G: Team Dempsey, Sneaky Fox, Zala, Jackson TN Boom
H: Charlotte, Duke Sevens, NCFC, Raleigh Rebels
TBT Enterprises is organizing the tournament and each team plays three group stage games on June 1-2. Sixteen teams advanced to the knockout stage starting June 2. Quarterfinals and semifinals are on June 3 and the championship is on June 4.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
