Denver, Colorado – May 19, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Kick It 3v3 Soccer is coming to Newport, North Carolina in 2026 with a World Tour event at Fort Benjamin. The small-sided tournament format is a new addition to the state and will give players and families a chance to play in a structured competition tied to a national framework. The Newport event is one of several stops on the organization’s growing schedule across the US.
The event is part of Kick It 3v3 Soccer’s continued presence in North Carolina through local tournaments and regional partnerships. Organizers say the Newport stop is part of a larger network of events that connect local play to bigger competitions later in the year. The tour format is designed to be consistent while adapting to regional participation levels and venue availability.
Dan Stratford, CEO and Owner of Kick It 3v3 Soccer, said returning to North Carolina fits with the organization’s strategy of repeating events in established markets. He said the Newport tournament will provide a local playing opportunity while also linking participants to the National Championships in Vail, Colorado. Stratford said the event structure supports community engagement and participation in a bigger competitive system.
The tournament will be held at Fort Benjamin in Newport, a venue that hosts organized events and has access for participants from surrounding areas. The coastal location makes it regional and teams from all over North Carolina and neighboring states can attend. Organizers describe the site as perfect for a full day event with multiple concurrent competitions.
The format is 3v3 soccer, a small-sided version of the sport with fewer players and a smaller field than traditional formats. Each team will play multiple matches throughout the event. There will also be one-on-one challenges and two-on-two soccer tennis competitions. These are designed to give teams and individual players multiple ways to participate in the same event environment. Open to all age groups and skill levels, youth divisions U6-U19 and adult men’s, women’s and co-ed. Registration is available for pre-formed teams and individual players so you can play with your friends or make new ones.Awards for participants will be medals and sportsmanship awards given out at the end of the event. The style of play in small-sided formats is continuous movement and ball contact which is why the matches are played throughout the day. Organizers say this format is used in recreational and developmental settings because of its accessibility and pace.
The Newport event is part of the Kick It 3v3 National Championships in Vail, Colorado from July 24-26, 2026. Teams that participate in the tournament will earn points that count towards qualification for the national event. This points system connects local events to a bigger tournament structure so there’s continuity between regional events and the championship later in the summer.
Stratford said the National Championships are a key part of the organization’s annual schedule and that events like the Newport tournament are an entry point for teams that want to play at a bigger level. He said connecting local events to national competitions is part of the organization’s long term plan to structure their tour across multiple regions.
The Newport tournament is on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at Fort Benjamin, 100 McQueen Avenue in Newport, North Carolina. The event will include a 3v3 tournament and other small-sided competitions. Open to youth and adult players and individuals and teams. Registration is open now on the organization’s website where you can find more event information.
Kick It 3v3 Soccer was founded in 1990 and is a grassroots small-sided soccer tour in North America. They host events across the US and internationally using a format with smaller teams and shorter matches than traditional soccer. Their programming includes opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels with events for recreational and competitive players.
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For more information about Kick It Soccer, contact the company here:
Kick It Soccer
Dan Stratford
303-731-6144
dstratford@kickitsoccer.com
