World Cup Draw Announcement
UNITED STATES TO COMPETE AT INAUGURAL ISF 6-A-SIDE WORLD CUP
The first-ever 6-a-side World Cup will be hosted in Lisbon, Portugal this September by the International Socca Federation (ISF), and the United States will compete for the title.
Formed in 2017, the ISF is the International Federation for 5, 6, 7 and 8-a-side football and soccer throughout the world. The inaugural tournament will be held September 23-29 in a purpose-built stadium in Lisbon’s historic Praça do Comércio, just steps from the Tagus River.
Leading the organization of Team USA is Adam Thelwell, Founder and National Director of Small Goal Soccer, the largest organizer of 6-a-side soccer in the United States. The inaugural World Cup squad will be coached by Tom Hurdle of UPSL club Sporting AZ FC.
“The ISF had approached us, originally, as we operate our Small Goal Soccer leagues across the country,” said Thelwell. “After a few conversations they saw our group as the right fit to organize and bring the US team to the World Cup in Portugal. We’re excited to be part of the tournament, and want to represent well. We have built a squad to compete.”
Team USA’s roster is headlined by former United States Men’s National Team player and veteran of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Robbie Findley. Findley’s ten-year professional career included time at EFL Championship side Nottingham Forest, and two stints at Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer, where he scored the equalizer against LA Galaxy in RSL’s 2009 MLS Cup-winning match.
Findley will be joined in Portugal by 2015 MLS Cup-winning goalkeeper Andrew Weber.
The roster includes several other members of Sporting AZ FC’s run to the third round of the U.S. Open Cup, and remaining slots will be filled from an open tryout scheduled for August 4, and a subsequent, invite-only event.
The “Socca World Cup” will feature 32 squads in a group stage and a knockout stage. The group draw will take place on July 4.