Philadelphia
Philadelphia plays soccer in rowhouse neighborhoods, school gyms and suburban rec fields alike, and the Philadelphia Union give the region a top-flight side in Chester. The MCC Philadelphia tournament, a 5-a-side competition running through April and May 2027, adds three local grounds and a ladder that runs to the World Final on 7 July.
Three grounds, three champions
Two halves of 15 minutes on a stop clock. Every team plays three group matches in a group of four, and the top two go into the playoffs, where a tie level after two halves goes to penalties. Five weeks of football on each ground leave Philadelphia with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
North Metro
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
West Metro
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
South Metro
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Checking live availability...
Neighborhood soccer, from the rowhouses to the Main Line
The game here lives in the neighborhoods. Pickup matches on city rec center courts, adult leagues in the Northeast and Delaware County, and social teams that book a weeknight turf slot in South Philadelphia are all part of the local routine. Irish, Italian, Ukrainian, Latin American and West African communities each bring their own clubs and tournaments, and they often play on small pitches because space in the city is tight.
That suits MCC's format: squads of nine at most, five on the pitch, two halves of 15 minutes and a group of four that plays three matches before the playoffs. A team that already plays together every week needs little else to be ready.
How the three Philadelphia grounds cover the region
North Metro covers the Northeast, Germantown and the northern suburbs of Montgomery and Bucks counties, reached by the Broad Street Line, Regional Rail and I-95. West Metro takes in West Philadelphia, the Main Line and the western suburbs along the Schuylkill Expressway and the Paoli/Thorndale line. South Metro covers South Philadelphia and Delaware County, with easy access from I-95 and the Broad Street Line.
Every ground takes between 64 and 128 teams and runs a complete round of its own. Venues arrive through the pitch owner programme at MCC, and the cards above show which grounds have a confirmed site and which are still looking.
Philadelphia in April and May, and the path through the United States
Spring in Philadelphia swings from cold mornings to mild evenings, with regular showers. The group stage runs over three weekends that start on 9, 16 and 23 April, the playoffs begin on 30 April and each ground closes with a final on 9 May.
A Philadelphia Pitch Champion earns a place in the national Country Championship, 28 to 30 May 2027, where the other entrants include the champions of Chicago and Atlanta, of Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, of Boston and Washington DC Metro, and of Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles Metro and New York Metro. Winners go on to the continental stage and then the World Final.
One season against a day of cups
Philadelphia's amateur calendar already has charity cups, corporate days and club festivals. MCC differs in structure: a five-week round, a published format, $20,000 for each Pitch Champion and an unbroken path to a world title. Only amateur teams enter, and each entry names a Team President who answers for conduct.
The road out of Philadelphia
- 01 · 9 Apr - 9 May 2027
Pitch Round
Groups of four on every pitch, three group matches each. The top two of every group go into the playoffs, and penalties settle a level playoff tie.
$20,000 - 02 · 28-30 May 2027
Country Championship
The Pitch Champions of each country play for the national title: two halves of 15 minutes, a league table, then the playoffs.
$150,000 - 03 · 2027
Continental Championship
Country Champions compete within their region for a place on the world stage.
$500,000 - 04 · 7 Jul 2027
World Championship
A five-team mini-league, then the World Final: two halves of 15 minutes, penalties if level. One MCC World Champion.
$5,000,000
Questions from Philadelphia
How does a team enter MCC in Philadelphia?
Register on this site and pick one of Philadelphia's three grounds: North Metro, West Metro, South Metro. One Team License per team: USD 1,200 for one year until 1 March 2027 (then 2,500), or 5,000 for three years. Payment and KYC verification follow the application.
When does the tournament start in Philadelphia?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Philadelphia grounds. The group matches are played on 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25 April, the playoffs from 30 April, and each ground's final on 9 May. Pitch Champions go straight to the Country Championship on 28-30 May 2027.
How many teams can play in Philadelphia?
Up to 384: each of the three grounds takes up to 128 teams, and each needs a minimum of 64 to run its round. A full ground puts an entry on its waitlist instead of turning it away.
What can a Philadelphia team win?
$20,000 per Pitch Champion, $150,000 for the United States title, $500,000 continental and $5,000,000 for the World Champion - plus championship rings from Country level up.
Can a South Philadelphia rec league team enter?
Yes. An amateur team of up to nine players can enter with a Team License and a named Team President. Rec league sides that already play small-sided games on turf or courts should find the format familiar.
Do Delaware County and Montgomery County teams play in Philadelphia itself?
Not necessarily. South Metro and North Metro cover the suburban counties, so a team picks the ground closest to where it trains, whether that is in the city or beyond its limits.
Is MCC linked to the Philadelphia Union or other local clubs?
No. MCC is an independent amateur competition, with no professional club, stadium or league attached to it, and Philadelphia-area teams enter on their own, each squad under a single Team License.
Which Philadelphia ground has the shortest trip from the Main Line?
West Metro covers the Main Line and the western suburbs, so teams there will usually find it closest. Each ground runs its own round of 64 to 128 teams, and a team picks the one nearest where it trains.
Also hosting in United States
Nearby in North America
Claim a pitch in Philadelphia
One Team License per team, for one year or three years. Squads of up to 9 are built in the MCC app after licensing. Registration takes the team, its coach and its Team President.
- USD1,200One year
- 5,000Three years