The North American Sand Soccer Championships fill the Oceanfront June 11-13, 2027. Team registration opens in January; watching from the Boardwalk is free.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Dates, registration rules and the field layout come from the North American Sand Soccer Championships site, run by the Hampton Roads Soccer Council. This page is updated each year at the same address.

The North American Sand Soccer Championships return to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Friday, June 11, to Sunday, June 13, 2027. The organizer calls it the world’s largest sand soccer festival and expects more than 11,000 players for the 33rd edition. Team registration opens in January 2027 at sandsoccer.com.

Know before you go

  • Dates: Friday, June 11, to Sunday, June 13, 2027
  • Where: the beach at the Oceanfront; main stadium and vendor village at 28th Street
  • To play: register a team from the first week of January; regular registration closes April 15
  • To watch: the matches are on the open beach, and thousands watch from the Boardwalk
  • Hotels: stay-to-play; participants book through EventConnect
  • Organizer: Hampton Roads Soccer Council, info@sandsoccer.com

How big it is

NASSC is a three-day beach festival staged over 25 city blocks and more than a mile and a half of sand, according to the event details page. The 2026 field map showed 66 fields, two of them pro stadiums, with the main stadium on 28th Street. Divisions run from under-8 youth teams to over-50 adults, with coed and college brackets and more than 80 brackets in all.

The weekend also hosts the U.S. Open, which the organizer calls the country’s premier beach soccer championship, with men’s and women’s pro teams from around the world playing for cash prizes. Besides soccer, the organizer lists volleyball, kickball, field hockey and flag football, more than 70 vendors and a free kids’ clinic.

The tournament is run by the Hampton Roads Soccer Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its affiliated clubs: Beach FC, Over Thirty Soccer League, Southeastern Virginia Women’s Soccer Association and Virginia Rush. Proceeds go to improvements at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex.

Playing: registration and deadlines

Teams play five a side on fields of 25 by 35 yards (six a side for under-8 and under-9 teams), and some competitive divisions play on larger 30 by 40 yard fields. Uniforms are “anything goes,” the organizer says.

From the FAQ and the 2026 registration guide:

  • Registration opens the first week of January. Regular registration closes April 15 or when divisions fill.
  • First come, first in: teams are accepted in the order they register and pay, except the pro U.S. Open divisions, which are picked on team history.
  • 2026 deadlines, a guide to the 2027 calendar: team fees due April 15, with late fees after that and again after May 1; late registration closed May 15; team check-in opened May 31; rosters locked June 7.
  • Stay-to-play: any participant using a hotel must book through EventConnect. Rooms for many hotels can be reserved up to a year ahead.

Watching, parking and getting there

The matches are on the open beach, and the organizer says thousands of spectators line the Boardwalk for music and food. It points visitors to the city’s parking map and notes that most Oceanfront hotels offer guest parking and that public garages are within walking distance.

June is paid-parking season at the Oceanfront. The city charges at meters and municipal surface lots from April 1 to Oct. 31, its three garages are open around the clock, and lot hours can change during large special events. Residents can buy a $50 annual Resort Area parking voucher.

For players coming from out of town, the organizer lists Norfolk International Airport and Newport News/Williamsburg Airport, and Amtrak Thruway bus service to the Virginia Beach stop at 19th Street and Arctic Avenue.

What this means for you

If you want a team in, register in January: divisions fill and late fees climb after April 15. If you just want to watch, the Boardwalk is public and runs alongside the fields, and the U.S. Open games are where the pro players are. For more on the resort area, see our Oceanfront and Boardwalk guide and our kids’ activities guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2027 North American Sand Soccer Championships?

June 11-13, 2027, on the beach at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. It is the 33rd edition of the tournament.

When does NASSC team registration open?

The first week of January. Regular registration closes April 15 or when divisions fill, whichever comes first, and teams are accepted first registered and paid, first in.

Do I have to book a hotel through NASSC?

Yes, if you are a participant staying in a hotel. NASSC is a stay-to-play event, and as a condition of play, hotel rooms must be booked through its partner, EventConnect.

Where is the main sand soccer stadium?

On the beach at 28th Street, surrounded by the vendor village. The 2026 layout had 66 fields, including two pro stadiums.