Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hosting North American Sand Soccer Championships

The 31st Annual North American Sand Soccer Championships will take place June 6–8 at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront with nearly 800 amateur and professional sand soccer teams, featuring divisions ranging from under 8 to over 40, in one of the largest beach soccer tournaments in the world.

The U.S. Open at NASSC attracts elite men’s and women’s players from around the world. This year, athletes from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and Europe will compete for a cash prize and the title of U.S. Open Champion.

“We are excited to welcome thousands of families and friends to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront for our 31st anniversary,” said Lauren Bland, NASSC executive director. “The vibe at the oceanfront is upbeat, friendly and feels like the world’s largest soccer reunion. Our participants have asked for more festival entertainment and we are excited to deliver a vendor village, nightly entertainment, and enhanced beverage options next to our stadium.”

Since its debut in Virginia Beach in 1994, the North American Sand Soccer Championships has grown into one of the largest charitable sports festivals in the region. The event is produced by the Hampton Roads Soccer Council and proceeds go toward developing its privately operated 75-acre Hampton Roads Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach.

“We are proud to host another edition of NASSC’s flagship professional division, the U.S. Open,” said Matt Whalen, U.S. Open director. “Both men’s and women’s brackets are highly competitive and will surely showcase the best beach soccer our planet has to offer.”

Spanning nearly two miles of oceanfront, the tournament is projected to attract approximately 100,000 attendees over three days. It’s expected to generate between 8,500 and 11,000 hotel room nights and create nearly $15 million in estimated economic impact.

In addition to the soccer competition, the event also serves to honor the legacy of Dick Whalen, founder of the NASSC, with the Dick Whalen Soccer Scholarship that was established in 2020. This scholarship supports graduating high school seniors from the local soccer community and has awarded over $50,000 to deserving student-athletes to date. Seven students will receive scholarships this year at the event.