Tuesday, May 26, 2026

SOCCER FANS WILL SCORE BIG AT SAIL250® VIRGINIA

TWO INTERNATIONAL SOCCER EVENTS. ONE CITY. ONE EXTRAORDINARY WEEK FOR FÚTBOL

NORFOLK, VA (May 26, 2026) — Soccer fans attending Sail250® Virginia, June 19–23, 2026, are in for a double-header of world-class Fútbol.

Sail250® Virginia proudly announces two soccer events running simultaneously during the historic maritime celebration: the Sail250® Virginia International Soccer Tournament, a multi-national crew competition staged right here in Hampton Roads; and official Watch Parties at The Waterside District, where fans can gather to cheer on their home nations during the globally televised international soccer tournament taking place across North America this summer.

THE SAIL250® VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL SOCCER TOURNAMENT

Saturday – Sunday, June 20 – 21, 2026 | Cutter Park, 100 Elementary Dr., Norfolk, VA 23551|

FREE and OPEN to the Public - 8 AM to 7 PM Saturday and 8 AM to 5:30 PM on Sunday.

In partnership with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Sail250® Virginia will host the most internationally diverse soccer tournament ever staged at a tall ship event in Norfolk — and the largest tournament at any of the five Sail250® National Ports this year. Competing athletes will include crewmembers from the international tall ships, foreign naval vessels participating in FleetEx 250, NATO Joint Forces Command, and Hampton Roads-based U.S. ships and commands.

36 teams representing 17+ countries and five continents will compete across two action-packed days, with group play running all day Saturday and into Sunday morning, followed by single-elimination rounds, two semifinal matches, and a championship final Sunday afternoon.

“We are thrilled to see so much interest in the tournament and encourage the public to come out and support the teams,” said Hank Moseley, Director of Maritime Operations, Sail250® Virginia. “We appreciate our partners, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, and the Peninsula Soccer Officials for helping to make the tournament a success.”

TOURNAMENT FORMAT AT A GLANCE

Largest soccer tournament @ any Sail250® National Port: 36 teams, 17 countries, 5 continents
7-on-7 format; teams of up to 12 players; two 15-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime
9 brackets of 4 teams each; every team plays at least 3 group-play matches (71 total games) Group play: All day Saturday and 8:00–10:00 AM Sunday
Semifinals: 3:15–3:50 PM and 4:00–4:35 PM Sunday
Championship Final: 5:00–5:35 PM Sunday
Full schedule and team listings will be announced in early June and posted here
U.S. Navy MWR food and drink available for purchase on-site; spectators encouraged to bring a folding chair

PARTICIPATING SHIPS & COMMANDS

Tall Ships:

V/E Capitán Miranda (Uruguay), USCG Barque Eagle (USA), B/E Esmeralda (Chile), A.R.S. Gloria (Colombia), B/E Guayas (Ecuador), B/E Juan Sebastián de Elcano (Spain), A.R.A. Libertad (Argentina), NRP Sagres (Portugal), INS Sudarshini (India), B.A.P. Unión (Peru), Dar Mlodziezy (Poland), N.S. Mircea (Romania), Gorch Foch (Germany)

FleetEx 250 Ships:

Leopold I (Belgium), OPV Niani (Sénégal), ARM Papaloapan (Mexico), FREMM Mohammed VI (Morocco)

U.S. Ships & Commands:

USS Mahan, USS Gerald Ford, USS Forrest Sherman, USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, USS Lassen, USS Bataan, U.S. Marine Corps Marine Forces Command, Naval Support Activities Hampton Roads

International Military Commands:

NATO Joint Forces Command

OFFICIAL WATCH PARTIES AT THE WATERSIDE DISTRICT

Throughout Sail250® Virginia, June 19–23, 2026

The Waterside District, 333 Waterside Dr., Norfolk, VA | WatersideDistrict.com

Soccer fever continues around the clock as The Waterside District — Norfolk’s premier waterfront restaurant and entertainment venue, located steps from the tall ship docking sites — serves as the Official Watch Party venue for Sail250® Virginia. Throughout the five-day event, the Waterside District will broadcast matches from the international soccer tournament, as the sport’s quadrennial championship tournament unfolds across North America this June.

Fans attending Sail250® Virginia who want to follow their national team’s progress in the global tournament can pop into the Waterside District between ship tours and waterfront activities to catch the latest match on-screen, enjoy food and drinks from the venue’s diverse lineup of dining options, and share the electric atmosphere with fellow supporters from around the world. With international crews from more than 17 nations in port during Sail250® Virginia, the Waterside District Watch Parties promise to be among the most internationally spirited sporting gatherings in Hampton Roads history.

Check WatersideDistrict.com and sail250virginia.com/soccer for the full game broadcast schedule and Watch Party details.

PHOTO CAPTION: TWO EVENTS. ONE CITY. ONE EXTRAORDINARY WEEK FOR SOCCER.

Whether you’re rooting for a tall ship crew on the pitch at Cutter Park or cheering your nation to glory on the big screen at The Waterside District, Sail250® Virginia is the place to be for soccer fans in Hampton Roads this June. Admission to the Sail250® Virginia International Soccer Tournament is free. Watch Party events at The Waterside District are open to the public. For more information, visit www.sail250virginia.com and www.WatersideDistrict.com.

Sail250® Virginia support includes:

In Partnership with VA250.

Sponsors: Virginia is for Lovers, The City of Norfolk, Sentara, TowneBank, W.F. Magann Corporation, Crofton, E.G. Middleton, Inc., Dominion Enterprises, McLeskey, VIGOR Marine | MHI Norfolk, The Port of Virginia, Dominion Energy, Robbins Maritime, Hampton Roads Shipping Association, Fairlead, Light Tech, Inc., Colliers, Virginia Pilot Association, Nauticus, Carnival Cruise Line, ICON, Colonna’s, Inc., Perry Family Foundation, Hilton Norfolk The Main, Visit Norfolk, City Cruises, BAE Systems, Coastal Precast Systems, LLC, Elizabeth River Concrete, S.B. Ballard, Bay Power Solutions, Caligari Gerloff Painting Inc., STIHL, Coastal Virginia Tourism Alliance, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, Navy League of Hampton Roads, City of Virginia Beach, Bruce Bishop, Decker Law, Sherwin Williams, Centennial, Schaubach Fund/Suffolk Foundation, Town Point Club, New Journal & Guide, 13News Now, WAVY TV 10. Produced by Norfolk Festevents Ltd.

WHRO Official Education Media Partner. | Hilton Norfolk The Main – HQ Hotel.

About Sail250® Virginia

Sail250® Virginia, hosted by the City of Norfolk, is part of the United States’ national commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. This signature event is planned as the largest public event in the Commonwealth for the 250th. Scheduled June 12–23, 2026, the event will bring a fleet of international tall ships, military ships, historic and character vessels to Norfolk (June 19–22, 2026) and Affiliate Harbors (June 12–21, 2026) in the Chesapeake Bay Region for multi-day waterfront festivals, featuring ship tours, fireworks, concerts, and educational programming. Sail250® Virginia will showcase Virginia’s role as a maritime gateway to the world, bringing together participants and visitors from around the globe.

About The Waterside District

The Waterside District is Norfolk’s waterfront dining and entertainment destination, located at 333 Waterside Drive in the heart of downtown Norfolk. Home to a diverse collection of local and national restaurants, bars, and live entertainment venues, The Waterside District is the ideal gathering spot for visitors and locals alike during Sail250® Virginia. For hours, dining options, and event information, visit: WatersideDistrict.com.

For more details, visit www.sail250virginia.com, Facebook, and Instagram

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