The IberCup x ECNL International Soccer Tournament is being held in Raleigh for the first time and features boy's teams made up of 10- and 11-year-old players.
"It features 160+, ten- and 11-year-old kids, boy's teams, spanning across six continents," said Bryan Bachelder, NCFC youth director of administration.
Players said the heat has already affected how games are being played.
"It was really hot. And we made a ton of substitutions. Like, every 5 or 6 minutes," said Warren Jordan of the NCFC Pre-Academy North Team.
Jordan said he would prefer playing on a different surface because of the temperatures generated by the field.
"I'd much rather be on grass because this turf generates a lot more heat," he said.
Tournament organizers said adjustments are being made to help keep participants safe in the extreme conditions.
"That involves delays. That involves pushing games into later time slots as the sun goes down, as we need to," said Bachelder.
Coaches said they have shortened playing stretches and increased substitutions to limit players' exposure to the heat.
"In a normal game when we're playing soccer games, players are playing up to 30, 40 minutes at a time straight. I think out here, we've been kind of going for 5 or 6 minutes. So, it's been an adjustment," said Cory Elenio, coach of the NCFC Pre-Academy North team.
Elenio said players are also being encouraged to focus on hydration and recovery away from the field.
"They played two games Friday. When they go home, it's all about hydration. It's about rest. It's about eating properly," he said.
Despite the challenging conditions, players said they are excited for the opportunity to compete against teams from around the world.
"I'm really happy right now. It's a great environment. I like to see how I'm playing against teams from other states and stuff like that," Jordan said.
The tournament concludes Monday, with the championship game scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.
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