Salinas Regional Soccer Complex attracts a national tournament for the first time.

Little by little the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is becoming an important sports venue in the region. But now the place is taking a big step as it hosts the Alianza Tour, an annual competition that takes place in various cities across the U.S.

Salinas is one of eight locations selected this year, along with the likes of Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles. It’s also the smallest in population.

“We are Salinas. We are right along with those major cities,” says Jonathan De Anda, the soccer complex manager.

More than 120 teams will participate in four tournaments over two days, bringing in about 6,000 visitors. Alianza has male and female tournaments, from 9-year-olds to adults. One team to keep an eye on is in the women’s category: Two-time champions Salinas Soccer Femenil won the ViX Alianza Femenil in 2023 and 2024, and now the team will defend its title in its home city.

Players will also have the opportunity to participate in a free tryout event called Allstate Sueño Alianza, a scouting program. Players will showcase their skills in hopes of landing a spot with professional teams in Mexico or the U.S., or at the college level.

One reason the complex landed this tournament was the addition of two lighted synthetic turf fields last year. For the past six years the soccer complex has worked every summer with Alianza de Fútbol Hispano, the organization that puts together the Alianza Tour, to bring Chevron Soccer Academy. “They just know the draw that this place has,” De Anda says.

Tournaments like Alianza Tour and the NorCal Premier Soccer’s Player Development Pool – a program that identifies, showcases and develops local talent in northern California – are putting the soccer complex on the national map.

“We wanted to be the center of the soccer world in many ways, at the same time serve our community,” says Kurt Gollnick, president and founding director of the Soccer Complex.

De Anda says that sometimes retired or professional players take part in these events. Copa Alianza has a $10,000 cash prize, while ViX Alianza Femenil offers $2,000 cash.

“Anyone’s welcome to come and watch high-quality soccer here in our area,” De Anda says.

ALIANZA TOUR 8am-8:50pm (game starting times) Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 9-10. Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, 1440 Constitution Blvd., Salinas. $10 per vehicle. alianzadefutbol.com/standings.