Pat McAfee injury update: ESPN star ruled out of TST quarterfinals with 'full f— tear' of hip flexor

David Suggs

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Pat McAfee injury update: ESPN star ruled out of TST quarterfinals with 'full f— tear' of hip flexor image

ESPN star Pat McAfee is one of the faces of The Soccer Tournament (TST), the seven-a-side soccer tournament established by TBT Enterprises — a spiritual successor to The Basketball Tournament (TBT).

Turning out for Concafa SC — seemingly a play on CONCACAF, the governing body for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean — McAfee is returning to his roots, using his feet to make headlines rather than his mouth.

On Saturday, however, he will be missing in action. McAfee is set to miss out on his beloved team's next clash, a duel with Hoosier Army. The reason why? A free kick gone awry. Here's what you need to know.

MORE: Full list of teams and notable players taking part in TST 2024

Why isn't Pat McAfee playing in the TST? Injury updates for ESPN host

McAfee is set to miss out on Concafa's contest with Hoosier Army (8:30 p.m. ET) after suffering a "hip flexor strain/full f— tear" against JJ Watt's Burnley FC, named after the team he and his wife, own a minority share in.

McAfee revealed his ailment to his followers on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday. The announcement was tinged with the hyperbole the punter-turned-pundit has become known for over the years.

McAfee indicated that he suffered the malady when he punted a free kick into orbit during Thursday's game. One look at the effort, and it's easy to see why.

Concafa has had an impressive run in the tournament thus far, winning two of its three group games before vanquishing Supra United and Tenfifteen to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Hoosier Army should prove its toughest test; it has won every game it's played in this tournament.

MORE: Full schedule, fixture list, and results for TST 2024

McAfee, meanwhile, will take his spot on the bench, a place he knows all too well from his football career. For what it's worth, he did strut his stuff on the turf, notching an assist on what figures to be the goal of the tournament: an aerial scissor kick a la Paolo Di Canio. 

TST 2024 match schedule

Men's tournament - Knockout stage

Quarterfinals

All men's quarterfinal matches are scheduled to kick off between 5 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET.

DateTime (ET)MatchTV/Streaming
Sat, Jun. 87 p.m.QF1: Nani FC (1A) vs. Sire Seven (L2)Streaming: ESPN+
Sat, Jun. 89:30 p.m.QF2: Reggae Rovers (1B) vs. Newtown Pride (M7)Streaming: ESPN+
Sat, Jun. 85:30 p.m.QF3: Saturdays Football (3F) vs. La Bombonera (2D)Streaming: ESPN+
Sat, Jun. 88:30 p.m.QF4: The Concafa SC (M14) vs. Hoosier Army (1K)Streaming: ESPN+

Semifinals

The men's semifinal matches will kick off at 6 p.m. ET and 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 9.

DateTime (ET)MatchTV/Streaming
Sun, Jun. 9TBDSF1: Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF2TBD
Sun, Jun. 9TBDSF2: Winner, QF3 vs. Winner, QF4TBD

Final

DateTime (ET)MatchTV/Streaming
Mon, Jun. 108:30 p.m.Winner, SF1 vs. Winner, SF2TBD

 Women's tournament - Knockout stage

Semifinals

The women's semifinal matches will kick off at 1 p.m. ET and 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 9.

DateTime (ET)MatchTV/Streaming
Sun, Jun. 9TBDSF1: 1st, Group A vs. 2nd, Group BTBD
Sun, Jun. 9TBDSF2: 1st, Group B vs. 2nd, Group ATBD

Final

DateTime (ET)MatchTV/Streaming
Mon, Jun. 108:30 p.m.Winner, SF1 vs. Winner, SF2TBD

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.