FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Hundreds of soccer players from all over the region will be in action on Sunday, July 17, when Futbolito, the official 4-v-4 tournament of Major League Soccer, returns to the New England area. MLS Futbolito is being presented locally by MetroPCS.
The New England Revolution will host MLS Futbolito, Major League Soccer’s multicultural grassroots initiative, on Sunday, July 17 at Gillette Stadium. For the first time ever, the premier championship match will be played on the game field during halftime of the Revolution’s match against the Philadelphia Union that evening.
MLS Futbolito is the largest touring multicultural event hosted by a U.S. professional sports league, and is a series of all-day events targeting the League’s growing fan base.
“We are very pleased to bring back Futbolito this year and excited to again have a partner like MetroPCS supporting the event,” Revolution Vice President of Business Development Craig Tornberg said. “The tournament has been a tremendous success in each of its three stops in New England, and we expect a greater success this year since players have the unique opportunity to play the premier final on the Gillette Stadium field.
“Futbolito is an authentic, multicultural grassroots tournament that showcases talented local players in the region. We’re looking forward to another great day of small-sided soccer and then transitioning that excitement to the Revs-Union match immediately after the tournament," Tornberg added.
Registration for the New England Futbolito event is currently open at MLSfutbolito.com. Complete tournament rules and information are also available at the web site. Additionally, interested participants with questions can call toll-free at 1-888-MLS-FUTBOLITO. The entrance fee is $150 per team for those competing in the Adult Premier Division, and $120 per team for all other participants.
The teams’ entry fees also include tickets to the Revolution’s match against Philadelphia at 7 p.m., later that evening.
The 4-v-4 tournament is open to players of all ages, abilities and affiliations. Team rosters can consist of up to seven players (four field players and three substitutes) and each team will play in round-robin action, with the possibility of advancing to the single-elimination championship playoff.
Teams registered for the competition will be divided according to age groups and competitive levels. Winners of each division will receive prizes with the first- and second-place teams in the Premier Division competing for $3,000 in cash prizes. In addition to entry into the tournament, each registered player will receive a ticket to the Revolution-Union match, a Futbolito t-shirt and the chance to win prizes from the tournament’s sponsors.
