The Ultimate Guide to Cup of Dreams
The Cup of Dreams is back to crown new champions ready to rise to shine on polished concrete. Like the red dirt renegades who own the clay at Roland Garros, our street-style, indoor, air-conditioned all-day tournament attracts a particular breed of Footy folks: 5v5'ers without fear of a grey, grassless field.
Street-style ball brings out the no fear breed within NYC Footy
Kicking off just days after the Club World Cup Final crowns their champ next door at Metlife Stadium, you'll find no shortage of "ultras" glued to the sidelines at America's 2nd largest mall. Not to mention, for all you Toffees or Mancs out there, Metflie will be hosting their EPL Summer Series the same night of the world's greatest show on (melted) ice: The Cup of Dreams.
The Cup of Dreams also offers activities for the caravan of spectators that supports our soccer habits throughout NYC and across state lines, thanks to our host, The Rink at American Dream
(Note: Before reaching out to our CX Team, despite playing at The Rink, this tournament will not be played on ice.)
Our flagship tournament of the summer is already stacked with stellar contenders, who plan on leaving American Dream with the very real title of champions, along with Atlas Everyday Bags courtesy of Mack Weldon.
The Tournament: Indoor Rules, Gear & More
Read up on our indoor rules before chatting up our refs (you may need to save up that Oxygen)
Get a jump on NYC Footy's indoor rules by reading through them in advance.
Choosing The Cup of Dreams as your first NYC Footy tournament is an excellent call. To assist with pre-tournament planning, we've gathered the essential details you'll need to know about NYC Footy's indoor rules, what to wear, and where to find last-minute gear onsite if needed.
The Rules: In addition to the list below, you can save energy and oxygen that might be spent chatting with a referee during a match by first reviewing our indoor rules here.
All players must wear shin guards.
All watches and hard-surfaced wristwear are not allowed and must be covered up during play.
No cleats are allowed
When the ball goes out of bounds, a kick-in restarts play.
During the kick-in, the ball must be kicked at “below-the-waist” height. If the ball is kicked above the waist, the ball will change possession to the opposing team, who will restart with a kick-in from the same location.
Goalkeepers must ensure the ball touches the ground before the halfway line with throws, goal kicks, or punts. If this rule is violated, the opposing team receives possession from the midfield sideline.
Goalkeepers may slide inside their penalty box only to block shots, make saves, or challenge fairly
Format: 5 v 5 (including the keeper). 1 female minimum on the pitch.
Duration: Five (5) 20-minute game slots + semi-finals and finals.
Roster: 8 rostered players at most, of which one (1) must be female.
The Pitch: The Rink at American Dream. This means you'll be playing on a polished concrete slab inside a converted hockey rink. Please keep this in mind, as well as the safety of all players during game time.
Also, to the one guy who thinks punching the shielding that separates players from spectators is a good idea, how's the hand?
The Footwear: Only indoor soccer shoes or sneakers will be permitted
The Look: All players must wear an official NYC Footy Cup of Dreams jersey during game time. We recommend that goalkeepers wear kneepads.
For any last-minute gear grabs, our sponsor JD Sports is conveniently located at American Dream.
The Schedule: Timing is Everything
Plan ahead to avoid last minute mall wind sprints.
Don't be like the McAllisters and make sure to arrive early for registration
Although American Dream is large, there are limitations to the number of fields (3 total) and the maximum number of teams we can allow to participate for tournament timing purposes.
All teams will have at least one sizable (~2 hour) break between games to eat and/or explore the mall. If you do plan to venture away from The Rink, please be sure to build in enough time to get back so you can avoid running through American Dream like you're the McAllister family in Home Alone.
If you do plan on bringing non-NYC Footy guests, you'll want to make sure they know that by attending, they may have to be on alert for any flying balls, although thanks to the shielding at The Rink, there's an added layer of protection just as long as that one guy doesn't start punching it again.
Tournament Time: 10 AM - 7 PM. Game slots are approximately 20 minutes each, and opening rounds will be followed by playoffs, which include semi-finals and finals.
After Party: TBD, but we'll be looking to set up shop sometime around 5 pm. Last year, The Yard House was our destination of choice, but please keep your eyes open for an official announcement on where our 2025 Cup of Dreams after party will take place.
How to Get to American Dream
The Rink at American Dream, the site of Cup of Dreams
American Dream is easy to get to: see below for the best day of travel options
Waiting for the G train or picking up a pizza at Ceres are two activities that will most likely take longer than the trip to American Dream. Here's the easiest way to find your way into the Garden State's most prolific shopping center.
Public Transit's Most Direct Route: NJ Transit Bus No. 355
Average Travel Time: 20 Minutes
Bus No. 355 departs NYC's Port Authority Bus Terminal Gate 305. You can see the current bus schedule via the NJ Transit website.
Second Most Direct Route: NJ Transit Train to Secaucus Junction + Ride Share/Taxi
Average Travel Time: 30 Minutes
Depending on your travel preferences, you can also take the NJ transit train one stop from Penn Station to Secaucus Junction station, followed by a 10-minute taxi or ride share. Trains depart Penn Station approximately every 15-20 minutes
Traveling by Car
Average Travel Time: 20-45 Minutes
Carpooling with the squad is a great tool for team bonding, as long as you don't get lost. To make sure you end up at the correct mall and not that den of sin in North Bergen, make sure to plug in the following into your navigation system of choice: 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ.
Activities: What to Do During Game Breaks
Pre-booking massages at Dream Nail & Spa during a game break is a must.
Need a reset to help shake up the standings? Here are 10 activities to enjoy when your team is on a break.
Enjoy a mid-tournament espresso at Rosetta Bakery
Schedule a massage in advance at Dream Nail & Spa
Work on your balance with Skudin Surf
Build out formations at the LEGO Discovery Center
Stroll The Avenue to keep the legs fresh
Legends of the Hidden Temple: Ropes Course Challenge
Avoid getting tagged with a red card at G.I. Joe Battle Station
Lost your game? Find your way out of it at Mirror Maze
Close out your evening with a trip on the Dream Wheel
The After Party: It Doesn't Count Unless You Can Close It Out
After you win the championship, Footy after party tradition demands you celebrate.
After your tournament run comes to a close, be sure to stick around and tell your spectators to join you for a post-game beverage of choice at our official after-party headquarters.
Last year, we selected the Yard House as our destination of choice, and we'll be sure to choose a location that's airing the Premier League Summer Series.
The Cup of Dreams isn't the only party where you'll find competitive soccer matches taking place in New Jersey on Saturday, July 26th.
The Premier Leagues Summer Series visits MetLife Stadium on July 26 (aka CoD Day)
The Premier League Summer Series arrives in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with two unique match-ups, both scheduled for Saturday, July 26:
4 PM: Everton v. AFC Bournemouth
7 PM: Manchester United v. West Ham United
Pre-gaming for the pros at The Cup of Dreams is the greatest call you can make, and if you'd like to learn more about availability, you can review more on the Premier League's Summer Series page here.
Champ Swag: You've Got This in the Bag
The Atlas Everyday Backpack, our champ swag for Cup of Dreams winners
Thanks to our sponsor Mack Weldon, each player on this year's Cup of Dreams winning team roster will take home an Atlas Everyday Bag.
Helpful when you don't feel like carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, the Atlas Everyday Bag is made with a water-resistant canvas which means it's the perfect accessory to accompany a traditional NYC Footy celebratory champagne pour.
Now that you’ve got the full rundown, sprint right over to our Cup of Dreams Registration Page before our final spots fly away for good.