RANTOUL — One of the nation’s fastest-growing soccer festivals is making its first-ever stop in Illinois.
On July 12 and 13, Soccer Wars will head to Rantoul. Participants from around the U.S. will celebrate the sport and put their skills to a test.
The festival will focus on intense competition, individual talent, and bringing people into the Champaign-Urbana community.
“There’s gonna be a big draw,” said Robert White, director of group sales and purchasing for Experience Champaign-Urbana. “We’re pulling from Indiana, we’re pulling from Missouri, Kentucky. And then just the people within the state. The idea is that is that it’s gonna bring a lot of people from out of the state into the community that would normally not be here.”
The event will feature three different competitions: Goalie Wars, where goalkeepers get a chance to show off their reflexes, as well as Player Wars and Skill Wars, where individual athletes will participate in smaller games and test out their abilities.
Rantoul will be the first town to host Soccer Wars in Illinois, now the 8th state to host the festival.
This year marks the beginning of a three-year partnership between Experience Champaign-Urbana and Soccer Wars, aimed at establishing a long-term presence for the event in the region.
Spectator admission is free. Player registration is open, with limited spots of just 16 players per age group.
Experience Champaign-Urbana is a financial supporter of Illinois Public Media.