AFC Toronto concluded their participation in the World Sevens Football seven-a-side tournament with a victory over Kansas City Current, securing a 3-2 win in Davie, Fla. Despite this positive result, AFC Toronto’s chances of advancing to the semifinals were dashed due to two previous defeats in the tournament, which features a total prize pool of $5 million.
This North American edition of the seven-a-side tournament saw Bayern Munich women emerge victorious by defeating Manchester United 2-1 in Estoril, Portugal. The competition format includes games lasting 30 minutes on a smaller field without offsides. Teams are allowed to field 16 players with unlimited substitutions during matches.
Teenage forward Kaylee Hunter played a key role in AFC Toronto’s win against Kansas City Current, scoring two goals and assisting Esther Okoronkwo’s decisive goal. Despite close matches against Tigres Femenil and Flamengo, AFC Toronto fell short in both encounters, with Flamengo ultimately securing the win in a penalty shootout.
Participating teams in the tournament also include San Diego Wave, Nacional from Uruguay, Deportivo Cali from Colombia, and Club America from Mexico. AFC Toronto, having topped the NSL regular season standings, received an invitation to the tournament after their recent loss in the NSL championship game against Vancouver Rise.
The tournament atmosphere is vibrant, with music playing throughout matches and players showcasing choreographed introductions and goal celebrations. The event is hosted at Beyond Bancard Field in Davie, formerly the training camp venue for the Miami Dolphins and current home ground for Fort Lauderdale United FC.
The World Sevens Football tournament drew attention alongside the MLS Cup final clash between Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami, held nearby at Chase Stadium. The tournament, co-founded by philanthropist Jennifer Mackesy, aims to promote shared prize money distribution among clubs, emphasizing fair compensation for staff and players.
