Cagliari’s journey to TST 2026 concludes

Cagliari’s adventure at The Soccer Tournament 2026 (TST), the international 7-a-side football tournament in Cary, North Carolina (USA), ends in the round of 32. The rossoblù have to surrender to the Tactical Manager’s Flo Sharks.

THE MATCH

NO GOALS IN THE FIRST HALF
In the 5th minute Nainggolan, following a vertical pass from goalkeeper Buono, acts as a buffer for Mancosu, a right-footed shot saved. In the 7th minute, Tactical Manager’s Flo Sharks were particularly dangerous with striker Yago Santos Martins “Manga”, who hit the top corner from distance. In the 9th minute he saved the Good result by blocking a close-range shot with his feet; Buono always sends the conclusion of Manga into the corner. At 13′ Sau tries a shot to return to the far post, his trademark, the ball passing over the top corner. Two minutes later Setti, from a tight angle, hits the outside base of the post. The first half ends in a draw.

-2 IN THE SECOND HALF
At the start of the second half, Manga, as always, gave Tactical Manager’s Flo Sharks the lead, finishing off a one-on-one combination with Ruan da Silva Pereira. Prettenhoffer then tried for Cagliari from distance, but his shot was blocked for a corner. In the 27th minute, Marlon Christian doubled the lead with a right-footed shot from a central free kick. Nainggolan led the Rossoblu’s response: a powerful but central free kick was saved by the goalkeeper. Cavuoti then attempted another, but his shot flew over. At the end of the half, Grandu had a golden opportunity, firing from close range, but the goalkeeper did well to deflect it for a corner.

THE ROSSOBLÙ TST CLOSES
After the two halves of 18 minutes each we move on to the “Target Score Time”, a special non-timed time designed to increase spectacularity and unpredictability. Whoever is ahead after the first 36 minutes wins by scoring another goal; whoever is chasing can overturn the result, but without conceding a goal, which would automatically award victory to the opponents. If the decisive goal does not arrive in the first three minutes of the “Target Score Time”, both teams progressively lose a player every three minutes: thus we move on to 6 against 6 and so on. Right at the end of the 7 v session. 7 comes Ruan da Silva Pereira’s goal which gives the victory to Tactical Manager’s Flo Sharks. This concludes Cagliari’s TST, playing in Cary for the third consecutive year. An opportunity to see the work of the players loved by the rossoblù people again, strengthen the bond with the fans, present in the United States and in every part of the world, and at the same time to increase the international dimension of the Club, with projects and partnerships aimed at enhancing the brand – such as the collaboration signed for the TST with the US company Delta Air Lines – and contributing to the promotion of Sardinia on a global level.

THE ROSSOBLÙ TST COMPLETES
CAGLIARI’S SQUAD AT THE 2026 TST
Led by captain Andrea Cossu, the Rossoblù team relied on the experience and charisma of Radja Nainggolan, Marco Sau, Luca Ceppitelli, and Matteo Mancosu, all of whom have long been involved with the club and in professional football. Also in the squad are young players owned by Cagliari: Vincenzo Sarno (goalkeeper), Nicolò Cavuoti, Nicola Grandu, Otheniel Raterink, Márton Prettenhoffer, and Alessandro Vinciguerra. Completing the roster are Alessio Buono (goalkeeper, from Zeta Como of the Kings League), Argentinean Facundo Setti (futsal specialist), Canadian Lucas Shaw, already present in 2025, and American Ashraf Tendo Bedard-Khalid. Team Coach: Gian Marco Serra: Sardinian five-a-side football coach with extensive experience in regional futsal, he has played for Mediterranea Cagliari, Monastir, and Serramanna, as well as having led the Sardinian Under-19 team. Athletic preparation was overseen by Francesco Fois, formerly part of the medical staff of the Rossoblù first team.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ROSSOBLÙ’S MATCHES AT THE 2026 TST

Cagliari 2-1 Villareal | CLICK HERE
Cagliari 1-3 Club América | CLICK HERE
Cagliari 4-3 Fort Lauderdale Strikers | CLICK HERE
Cagliari 0-3 Tactical Manager’s Flo Sharks | CLICK HERE