Photo courtesy Charleston Battery
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Carolina Challenge Cup will return to Charleston in February 2017 as the USL’s Charleston Battery will welcome Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC, Columbus Crew SC, and Atlanta United FC to MUSC Health Stadium for the traditional preseason tournament.
“We are thrilled to bring Major League Soccer back to Charleston, South Carolina for the 2017 Carolina Challenge Cup,” said Andrew Bell, Charleston Battery President. “We always enjoy the level of excitement that these games bring and we look forward to our local soccer fans being able to see some of the very best players in the U.S. right here in the Lowcountry.”
The 2017 Carolina Challenge Cup will be the 13th staging of the tournament. The Charleston Battery first hosted the CCC in 2004, as the club became one of the first lower-division American soccer clubs to host multiple MLS teams for preseason. The tournament has offered soccer fans in South Carolina the opportunity to see international superstars play in Charleston for more than a decade.
World Cup winners David Villa (NYCFC) and Kaka (Orlando City SC) headlined the CCC in 2015, bringing a global spotlight to Charleston and the Battery. Both Saturday night doubleheaders in 2015 sold out for the first time in the tournament’s history. This year’s CCC rosters include United States Men’s National Team players Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) and Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC), former Battery player Osvaldo Alonso, and Trinidad & Tobago captain Kenwyne Jones (Atlanta United).
Columbus Crew SC won the first ever Carolina Challenge Cup and returned in 2005 and 2012. Seattle Sounders took part in the tournament in 2012, and will return for the second time this February. MLS expansion side Atlanta United will play some of its first matches against MLS competition in Charleston this winter.
The four participating teams will play in a round robin style tournament with matches taking place over the course of three days in February.
2017 Carolina Challenge Cup Schedule
MUSC Health Stadium - Charleston, S.C.
Saturday, February 18th
Charleston Battery vs. Columbus Crew SC, 4:30 p.m. ET
Atlanta United FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7 p.m. ET
Wednesday, February 22nd
Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew SC, 5 p.m. ET
Charleston Battery vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, February 25th
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Columbus Crew SC, 4:30 p.m. ET
Charleston Battery vs. Atlanta United FC, 7 p.m. ET
Tag(s):